Anorexia or anorexia nervosa is an illness in which a person has an overwhelming fear of becoming fat, and so refuses to eat enough and becomes thinner and thinner.
anorexia in British English
(ˌænɒˈrɛksɪə)
noun
1. medicine
loss of appetite
2. Also called: anorexia nervosa (nɜːˈvəʊsə)
a mental health condition characterized by fear of gaining weight, often leading to refusal of food and an excessive desire to exercise
Derived forms
anorectic (ˌanoˈrectic) or anorexic (ˌanoˈrexic)
adjective, noun
Word origin
C17: via New Latin from Greek, from an- + orexis appetite
anorexia in American English
(ˌænəˈrɛksiə)
noun
1.
lack of appetite for food
2.
an eating disorder, chiefly in young women, characterized by aversion to food and obsession with weight loss, and manifested in self-induced starvation and excessive exercise, etc.
in full anorexia nerˈvosa cf. bulimia
Word origin
ModL < Gr < an-, without + orexis, a desire for < oregein, to reach after < IE base *reg-: see right
Examples of 'anorexia' in a sentence
anorexia
It's not news to learn that the modelling world is rife with anorexia and bulimia.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
To beat anorexia you have to eat.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Some will consider that a person can suffer from both anorexia and bulimia at the same time.
Wilkinson, Helena Beyond Chaotic Eating (1993)
She remained as an outpatient for almost three years despite her anorexia showing little sign of improvement.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You suffered from anorexia in your twenties.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
My family is a massive part of the motivation to beat anorexia.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It lead her into two years of anorexia hell.
The Sun (2011)
He was horribly bullied at school and struggled for years with anorexia.
The Sun (2010)
His niece suffered from anorexia for decades.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
From the sound of your letter, you may have bulimia and possibly anorexia as well.
Christianity Today (2000)
I thought it was a sign my anorexia and bulimia were getting better.
The Sun (2011)
The most obvious symptom of anorexia is weight loss, but the young sufferer often makes excuses for it.
The Sun (2015)
So glad u beat anorexia.
The Sun (2008)
I've had anorexia for three years.
The Sun (2007)
Early symptoms include anorexia, muscular weakness and fatigue, minor skin and nervous troubles.
Mayes, Adrienne The Dictionary of Nutritional Health (1986)
In other languages
anorexia
British English: anorexia /ˌænəˈrɛksɪə/ NOUN
Anorexia or anorexia nervosa is an illness in which a person refuses to eat enough because they have a fear of becoming fat.