anemia

noun

ane·​mia ə-ˈnē-mē-ə 

1

a

: a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume

b

: ischemia

2

: lack of vitality

Examples of anemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He was brought to a hospital emergency department in a Paris suburb where he was diagnosed with dementia — and with anemia caused by a longstanding loss of blood. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

She was transferred to the Ojai Raptor Center for care, where she was diagnosed with severe anemia. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Aug. 2026

That damage can interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients and can cause symptoms extending well beyond the digestive system, including fatigue, anemia, neurological problems and elevated liver enzymes. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

During her time in medical care, Jackie faced a series of setbacks tied to anemia and a mystery illness that caused her packed cell volume, a measure of red blood cells, to drop well below the healthy range for an eagle. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek anaimia bloodlessness, from a- + -aimia -emia

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing anemia

• anti-anemia
• aplastic anemia
• Cooley's anemia
• hemolytic anemia
• pernicious anemia
• sickle cell anemia

Rhymes for anemia

• premia
• pyaemia
• academia
• azotemia
• bacteremia
• hyperaemia
• hyperemia
• hypoxemia
• septicaemia
• septicemia
• thalassaemia
• thalassemia

Kids Definition

anemia

noun

ane·​mia ə-ˈnē-mē-ə 

: a condition in which the blood has less than the normal amount of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or total volume and which is usually marked by weakness, exhaustion, pale skin, shortness of breath, and abnormal heartbeat

anemic

-mik

adjective

Medical Definition

anemia

noun

ane·​mia

variants or chiefly British anaemia

ə-ˈnē-mē-ə 

1

: a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume see aplastic anemia, hyperchromic anemia, hypochromic anemia, megaloblastic anemia, microcytic anemia, pernicious anemia, sickle cell anemia compare oligocythemia

2

: ischemia

anemic adjective

or chiefly British anaemic

ə-ˈnē-mik 

anemically adverb

or chiefly British anaemically

-mi-k(ə-)lē