anorexic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2formal, medical, sensitive informal
Quick answer
What does “anorexic” mean?
Relating to or suffering from anorexia, a medical condition characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat sufficient food.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to or suffering from anorexia, a medical condition characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat sufficient food.
Extremely thin, emaciated, or lacking substance, often used metaphorically (e.g., an anorexic budget).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and clinical terminology are identical. The condition 'anorexia nervosa' is the formal term in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally sensitive in both cultures. The metaphorical extension (e.g., 'anorexic profits') is common in both.
Frequency
Comparably frequent, given global awareness of eating disorders.
Grammar
How to Use “anorexic” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/became/seems anorexic.anorexic [Noun]severely/extremely anorexicVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anorexic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She was hospitalised due to being dangerously anorexic.
- The charity's finances looked positively anorexic.
American English
- She was hospitalized for being severely anorexic.
- The startup's revenue stream was anorexic at best.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for severely reduced or insufficient resources (e.g., 'The department survived on an anorexic budget.').
Academic
Used in psychology, medicine, and sociology papers to describe the condition or its sufferers.
Everyday
Used with care to describe someone with an eating disorder; can be seen as stigmatizing if used flippantly.
Technical
Clinical descriptor within psychiatry and general medicine for patients meeting DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria for anorexia nervosa.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anorexic”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anorexic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anorexic”
- Confusing 'anorexic' (adjective/condition) with 'anorexia' (the noun for the condition). Incorrect: 'She suffers from anorexic.' Correct: 'She suffers from anorexia.'/'She is anorexic.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Many health organizations advocate for 'person-first' language (e.g., 'a person with anorexia') to avoid defining someone solely by their illness. Using 'anorexic' as a noun can be seen as reductionist.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically to describe anything extremely thin, weak, or lacking in necessary resources (e.g., an anorexic report, an anorexic wallet).
'Anorexia' is the name of the medical condition (noun). 'Anorexic' is primarily an adjective describing someone who has that condition. It can also be used as a noun, though this is less preferred.
In its core medical sense, yes, it specifically refers to the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. The metaphorical use extends the idea to any severe lack or depletion.
Relating to or suffering from anorexia, a medical condition characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat sufficient food.
Anorexic is usually formal, medical, sensitive informal in register.
Anorexic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.əˈrek.sɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.əˈrek.sɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Metaphorical] An anorexic budget/wallet (a very small budget).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
AN ORE (rock) is heavy, but ANOREXIC describes someone who wants to be as light as air, rejecting food.
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF FOOD IS LACK OF SUBSTANCE / DEPLETION (extended to non-physical domains like finances).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST sensitive and preferred phrasing in a clinical context?