hypertrophy

noun

hy·​per·​tro·​phy hī-ˈpər-trə-fē 

plural hypertrophies

1

biology : excessive development of an organ or part

specifically : increase in bulk (as by thickening of muscle fibers) without multiplication of parts

cardiac hypertrophy

2

: exaggerated growth or complexity

economic hypertrophy

hypertrophic

ˌhī-pər-ˈtrō-fik 

adjective

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Breaking Down Hypertrophy

When the prefix hyper-, "above, beyond", is joined to -trophy, we get the opposite of atrophy. An organ or part becomes hypertrophic when it grows so extremely that its function is affected. Muscle hypertrophy is common in men who do strength training, and is often harmless; but extreme muscle hypertrophy generally involves taking steroids, which can do great damage to the body. Hypertrophy of the heart sounds as if it might be healthy, but instead it's usually a bad sign. Hypertrophy, like atrophy, can be used in nonmedical ways as well to describe something with exaggerated growth or complexity.

Examples of hypertrophy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This drives muscle protein synthesis, the physiological process where the body creates new muscle proteins, leading to hypertrophy. —Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

The guidelines include specific recommendations for three goals: building overall strength, muscle growth or hypertrophy, and training to increase power. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 Mar. 2026

Francisco Gaspar-Andres, 48, a detainee from Guatemala, died of health complications from cirrhosis and cardiac hypertrophy. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 4 Mar. 2026

Doing so requires stimulating the muscles in a way that encourages hypertrophy, or muscle growth. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from New Latin hypertrophia, from hyper- + -trophia -trophy

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hypertrophy

• benign prostatic hypertrophy

Rhymes for hypertrophy

• sophy
• trophy

Medical Definition

hypertrophy

1 of 2 noun

hy·​per·​tro·​phy hī-ˈpər-trə-fē 

plural hypertrophies

: excessive development of an organ or part

specifically : increase in bulk (as by thickening of muscle fibers) without multiplication of parts

ventricular hypertrophy

hypertrophy

2 of 2 intransitive verb

hypertrophied; hypertrophying

: to undergo hypertrophy