allergy
noun
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Definition of allergy
1 : altered bodily reactivity (such as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure a bee venom allergy so severe that a second sting may be fatal
2 : exaggerated or pathological immunological reaction (as by sneezing, difficult breathing, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
3 : medical practice concerned with allergies
4 : a feeling of antipathy or aversion
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Synonyms & Antonyms for allergy
Synonyms
averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, mislike
Antonyms
appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use
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Examples of allergy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Naturally, the best way to avoid the red meat allergy is by avoiding tick bites altogether. — Fernando Ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Meat lovers beware: Bites from the Lone Star tick are on the rise," 25 June 2018 Newslook There's a new entry on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's drug shortages list: the EpiPen injectors used as emergency health treatment for people who suffer from health-threatening food allergies or insect bites. — Kevin Mccoy, USA TODAY, "U.S. consumers face some EpiPen shortages, Food and Drug Administration says," 10 May 2018 The researchers are experimenting with mice that are genetically altered to have a peanut allergy. — Houston Chronicle, "youdocs0507.hou," 6 May 2018 This is bad news for those who suffer from allergies. — Banu Ibrahim, CNN Underscored, "Five products you'll swear by this allergy season," 13 Apr. 2018 Age 0 — 12 Roughly 8 percent of kids in the US suffer from food allergies—often from peanuts. — Chelsea Leu, WIRED, "How Science Is Solving Health Issues at All Stages of Life," 27 Mar. 2018 Many trees will flower, and if those flowering buds are destroyed, that will just mean fewer seeds will drop and folks who usually suffer from spring allergies will breathe easier. — Margaret Lauterbach, idahostatesman, "This winter has been unusually warm and dry. Here are garden tips if we get another freeze.," 9 Feb. 2018 Colonics come in various forms—from tonics, scary derriere devices, and fad diets—and are still said to treat all manner of ailments from allergies, alcoholism, and asthma to constipation, mental disorders, and ulcerative colitis. — Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "In “triumph of ignorance,” Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop touts $135 coffee enema," 6 Jan. 2018 Building the Greenwich house in a way that allowed for optimal air quality was important for Schoenberg, who suffers from allergies herself. — Kelsey Kloss, ELLE Decor, "10 Sustainable Features That Are Changing The Definition Of Smart House," 28 Oct. 2016These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'allergy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for allergy
allergy
noun
English Language Learners Definition of allergy
: a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people
See the full definition for allergy in the English Language Learners Dictionary
allergy
noun
\
Kids Definition of allergy
: a condition in which a person is made sick by something that is harmless to most people
allergy
noun
\
Medical Definition of allergy
1 : altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure his bee-venom allergy may render a second sting fatal
2 : exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
3 : medical practice concerned with allergies
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