chlorosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/TechnicalHighly technical/scientific (botany, plant pathology, historical medicine)
Quick answer
What does “chlorosis” mean?
A pathological condition in plants, often called 'leaf chlorosis', characterized by a yellowing of green plant tissues due to a lack of chlorophyll.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pathological condition in plants, often called 'leaf chlorosis', characterized by a yellowing of green plant tissues due to a lack of chlorophyll.
Historically in human medicine, a form of severe iron-deficiency anaemia, primarily in adolescent girls, giving a pale, greenish complexion; now an obsolete medical term (green sickness).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word is strictly technical. The historical medical connotation ('green sickness') is equally archaic.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Used almost exclusively within specialised botanical or historical medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chlorosis” in a Sentence
Chlorosis affects [plant species].[Plant species] exhibits chlorosis.Chlorosis is caused by [deficiency/pathogen].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chlorosis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new growth began to chlorose rapidly in the waterlogged soil.
- Older leaves often chlorose first when nitrogen is deficient.
American English
- The pin oak is prone to chlorose in our high-pH soil.
- Citrus trees may chlorose if the irrigation water is alkaline.
adjective
British English
- The chlorotic leaves were a clear sign of nutrient lock-up.
- We treated the chlorotic hydrangea with a sequestered iron feed.
American English
- A chlorotic maple tree stood out in the otherwise green lawn.
- The diagnosis was iron deficiency based on the interveinal chlorotic pattern.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in horticultural trade discussing plant health.
Academic
Common in botany, plant pathology, agricultural science, and history of medicine papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain of use. Describes a specific physiological symptom in plants.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chlorosis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chlorosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chlorosis”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈklɔːrəsɪs/ (like 'chlorine').
- Using it to describe general poor plant health without specific yellowing.
- Using the modern medical sense (it is obsolete).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a symptom, not a disease itself. It indicates an underlying problem such as nutrient deficiency, root damage, disease, or poor environmental conditions.
Often, yes. If the cause (e.g., iron deficiency, compacted soil) is identified and remedied, new growth will typically be green, though already chlorotic leaves may not recover fully.
Chlorosis is the yellowing of plant tissue due to chlorophyll loss. Necrosis is the death of plant tissue, which appears as brown, black, or dried areas.
The condition historically described as 'chlorosis' or 'green sickness' is now understood and classified as severe iron-deficiency anaemia. Modern medicine uses precise haematological terminology, making 'chlorosis' an archaic clinical term.
A pathological condition in plants, often called 'leaf chlorosis', characterized by a yellowing of green plant tissues due to a lack of chlorophyll.
Chlorosis is usually highly technical/scientific (botany, plant pathology, historical medicine) in register.
Chlorosis: in British English it is pronounced /kləˈrəʊsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /kləˈroʊsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHLOROsis comes from CHLOROphyll, the green pigment in plants; -OSIS indicates a disease/condition. Think: 'CHLOROphyll loss-OSIS'.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHLOROSIS IS A LOSS OF VITALITY/VIRIDITY (greenness as a metaphor for health and life force).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'chlorosis' currently used as a active, non-historical technical term?