anorexic

1 of 2

adjective

an·​orex·​ic ˌa-nə-ˈrek-sik 

1

: anorectic

2

: relating to, characteristic of, or affected with anorexia nervosa

also : seemingly affected with anorexia nervosa as by being excessively skinny

anorexic

2 of 2

noun

: a person affected with or as if with anorexia nervosa

Examples of anorexic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

His maternal grandmother was anorexic. —Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2026

When Klara ends up in the local hospital’s anorexic ward, David and Laura must resort to even more desperate measures, which paradoxically help thaw out their own emotional cold war. —Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2025

Noun

Let’s get rid of Infirmary Feminism, with its bedlam of bellyachers, anorexics, bulimics, depressives, rape victims and incest survivors. —Dwight Garner, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

anorexia + -ic entry 1

Noun

derivative of anorexic entry 1, in part after French anorexique

First Known Use

Adjective

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for anorexic

• dyslexic

Kids Definition

anorexic

adjective

an·​orex·​ic

ˌan-ə-ˈrek-sik

: affected with anorexia nervosa

Medical Definition

anorexic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​orex·​ic -ˈrek-sik 

1

: anorectic sense 1a

2

: relating to, characteristic of, or affected with anorexia nervosa

anorexic

2 of 2 noun

: a person affected with anorexia nervosa