hemophile: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Medical (dated)
Quick answer
What does “hemophile” mean?
A person with hemophilia.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person with hemophilia; a bleeder.
In broader historical or biological contexts, can refer to an organism that requires or thrives in the presence of blood, but this usage is rare and largely obsolete. Primarily a dated/medical term for a person with the blood clotting disorder hemophilia.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling reflects regional preference: "haemophile" is the standard British spelling, while "hemophile" is American. Both are equally dated.
Connotations
None beyond the dated/technical register. The term itself carries the same medical connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern usage in both varieties. "Haemophiliac" (UK) / "Hemophiliac" (US) is the far more common term.
Grammar
How to Use “hemophile” in a Sentence
[the/a] + hemophile + [verb e.g., requires, suffers from]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Might appear in historical medical texts or discussions of the history of medicine.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be misunderstood by most.
Technical
The primary domain, though now replaced by 'hemophiliac'. Might be used in very specific historical or bacteriological contexts (e.g., a blood-loving bacterium).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hemophile”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hemophile”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hemophile”
- Confusing it with 'hemophiliac' (the correct modern term).
- Using it in contemporary speech/writing.
- Misspelling as 'hemaphile' or 'hemofile'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same condition. 'Hemophile' is an older, largely obsolete form, while 'hemophiliac' is the standard modern term.
No, it is not recommended. You should use 'hemophiliac' or 'person/patient with hemophilia' to align with contemporary medical terminology.
It follows the general spelling convention: American English uses 'hemo-' (from Greek 'haima'), while British English traditionally uses 'haemo-'.
In rare, technical biological contexts, 'hemophile' might describe a bacterium that grows well in blood cultures (e.g., *Haemophilus influenzae*), but this is highly specialized and not related to the human disorder.
A person with hemophilia.
Hemophile is usually technical / medical (dated) in register.
Hemophile: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhiː.məʊ.faɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhiː.moʊ.faɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Hemo' (blood) + 'phile' (lover). A 'hemophile' was historically seen as someone whose blood 'loves' to flow (doesn't clot).
Conceptual Metaphor
BLOOD IS A LIQUID (that cannot be contained). The person is PASSIVE HOST TO A CONDITION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason 'hemophile' is not recommended in modern usage?