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

That may involve doing lab work to look for things like anemia, nutritional deficiencies, or thyroid dysfunction. — Korin Miller, Allure, 16 Sep. 2026

There are also certain risk periods, like pregnancy, where women are more prone to anemia, and childbirth, where emergencies may necessitate a blood transfusion, Lawrence said. — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Single variants in coding DNA can cause diseases such as Tay-Sachs and sickle cell anemia. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026

Ticks can transmit disease, and when a severe infestation is left untreated, the resulting blood loss can lead to anemia and serious tissue damage. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 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