Definition of alopecia
: loss of hair, wool, or feathers
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alopecia was our Word of the Day on 02/28/2007. Hear the podcast!
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Recent Examples of alopecia from the Web
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Not everyone who has alopecia loses all their hair.
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Marla Martin had nine inches of her hair cut off for Children With Hair Loss, a nonprofit organization that provides free services in the Midwest to children and teens who are fighting cancer, alopecia, burns or other medical conditions.
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Most recently, autoimmune drugs known as Janus kinase inhibitors -- JAK inhibitors -- have been found to produce a full head of hair in patients with moderate to severe alopecia areata, a type of baldness that affects both men and women.
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Even better, what if the findings prove more effective than the scant two drugs on the market for male-pattern baldness (aka androgenetic alopecia) and were less painful than hair transplant surgery?
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Traction alopecia: Practices like rough, frequent brushing and wearing too-tight braids or buns can cause follicular degeneration syndrome, warns Shainhouse.
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Trevor Lucas slaps the hand of Samantha Maitz, 4, of Indianapolis, during an event for people with alopecia before the night's game against Manchester at Anderson University, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.
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All of this heavy-handed styling puts the hairline at risk for traction alopecia.
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According to recent research, between 1 and 2 percent of the population will develop alopecia areata at some point in their lifetime.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'alopecia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What is the Origin of alopecia?
Doctors use "alopecia" to refer to various forms of hair loss, including "alopecia areata," a sudden loss of hair in patches that involves little or no inflammation. It may surprise you to learn that the word ultimately derives from "alōpēx," the Greek word for "fox," but the connection makes sense if you think of a fox who is afflicted with mange, a disease with symptoms that include, among other things, loss of hair. Middle English speakers borrowed the Latin word alopecia, which comes from "alōpekia," a Greek term that can be translated as "mange on foxes."
Medical Dictionary
Learn More about alopecia
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Nglish: Translation of alopecia for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about alopecia
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