elephantiasis

noun

el·​e·​phan·​ti·​a·​sis ˌe-lə-fən-ˈtī-ə-səs 

-ˌfan-

plural elephantiases ˌe-lə-fən-ˈtī-ə-ˌsēz 

-ˌfan-

1

: enlargement and thickening of tissues (as from chronic lymphedema)

specifically : the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatic vessels by filarial worms (especially Wuchereria bancrofti)

2

: an undesirable usually enormous growth, enlargement, or overdevelopment

elephantiasis of the imagination

Did you know?

In Latin elephantiasis referred to a kind of leprosy in which the skin takes on the appearance of an elephant's hide. The word is still used in the medical field for various infectious skin diseases in which the affected part becomes grossly enlarged. The first known figurative use of "elephantiasis" is by English author George Meredith in a letter dated December 22, 1866. In that letter, he ribs an acquaintance for his exaggerated description of the size of a mackerel, telling him that he has "become the victim of a kind of mental elephantiasis."

Examples of elephantiasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For over 50 years, researchers, clinicians and policymakers in the global health community have worked to eliminate infections such as onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis). —Philip Budge, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026

In the nearly four decades since its launch in 1987, similar public-private partnerships have emerged to treat trachoma, which causes blindness; lymphatic filariasis (or elephantiasis); schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that can cause liver damage; and intestinal parasites in children. —Patrick Adams, NPR, 5 June 2025

Jeans, a kind of Patient Zero for pants trends, showed symptoms of acute-onset elephantiasis. —Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024

Brain-eating amoebas, blood flukes, leeches, and the worms that cause lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, are all parasites. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 22 Jan. 2024

There’s a condition called elephantiasis, which is really a lymphatic obstruction caused by a parasite called Wuchereria bancrofti. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 13 June 2023

Lymphatic elephantiasis was deemed eradicated in several countries after such programs were implemented. —Bradley Van Paridon, Scientific American, 1 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, a kind of leprosy, from Greek, from elephant-, elephas

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for elephantiasis

• cholelithiasis
• nephrolithiasis
• schistosomiasis
• urolithiasis
• amebiasis
• candidiasis
• filariasis
• leishmaniasis
• mydriasis
• pityriasis
• archdiocese
• psoriasis

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Kids Definition

elephantiasis

noun

el·​e·​phan·​ti·​a·​sis ˌel-ə-fən-ˈtī-ə-səs 

-ˌfan-

: the enormous enlargement of an arm or a leg or of the scrotum that is caused by blocking of the vessels carrying lymph by nematode worms

Medical Definition

elephantiasis

noun

el·​e·​phan·​ti·​a·​sis ˌel-ə-fən-ˈtī-ə-səs  -ˌfan- 

plural elephantiases -ˌsēz 

: enlargement and thickening of tissues (as from chronic lymphedema)

specifically : the enormous enlargement of a limb or the scrotum caused by obstruction of lymphatics by filarial worms of the genus Wuchereria (W. bancrofti) or a related genus (Brugia malayi)