hypochondria

hy·po·chon·dria

noun \ˌhī-pə-ˈkän-drē-ə\

Definition of HYPOCHONDRIA

: extreme depression of mind or spirits often centered on imaginary physical ailments; specifically : hypochondriasis

Examples of HYPOCHONDRIA

1. She fueled her hypochondria by reading articles about rare diseases.

Origin of HYPOCHONDRIA

New Latin, from Late Latin, plural, upper abdomen (formerly regarded as the seat of hypochondria), from Greek, literally, the parts under the cartilage (of the breastbone), from hypo- + chondros cartilage

First Known Use: 1668

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal