cretinism

noun cre·tin·ism \ ˈkrē-tᵊn-ˌi-zəm \

Definition of cretinism

: a usually congenital abnormal condition marked by physical stunting and mental retardation and caused by severe hypothyroidism

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Recent Examples of cretinism from the Web

Even Switzerland, like Bolivia, Nepal and other mountainous countries, once had high rates of goiters and cretinism caused by iodine deficiency, as did low-lying flood-prone areas far from the ocean in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.

— donald g. mcneil jr., New York Times, "Should We Be Buying Iodized Salt?," 21 July 2017
In 1997, according to Unicef, almost a fifth of its population had goiters — swollen thyroid glands in the neck that indicate serious deficiency, which can also cause dwarfism and cretinism.

— donald g. mcneil jr., New York Times, "How a Tsunami in Japan Endangered Children in Cambodia," 15 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cretinism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of cretinism

1801

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

cretinism

noun cre·tin·ism \ -ᵊn-ˌiz-əm \

medical Definition of cretinism

: a usually congenital abnormal condition marked by physical stunting and mental retardation and caused by severe thyroid deficiency — called also infantile myxedema