Definition of cretinism
: a usually congenital abnormal condition marked by physical stunting and mental retardation and caused by severe hypothyroidism
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
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.
-
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.
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
Medical Dictionary
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
Learn More about cretinism
-
See words that rhyme with cretinism Britannica English: Translation of cretinism for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up cretinism? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
