hodgkin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “hodgkin” mean?
A proper noun, primarily referring to the surname of the scientist Dorothy Hodgkin, or associated with the medical condition named after Thomas Hodgkin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun, primarily referring to the surname of the scientist Dorothy Hodgkin, or associated with the medical condition named after Thomas Hodgkin.
Almost exclusively refers to Hodgkin's lymphoma (a type of cancer) or, in specialized contexts, to Dorothy Hodgkin's scientific achievements (X-ray crystallography).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Pronunciation may show minor variation. 'Hodgkin's disease' is an older, synonymous term for Hodgkin lymphoma, used similarly in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral/medical. In UK academic contexts, may also strongly evoke Dorothy Hodgkin (Nobel laureate).
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to medical and scientific discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “hodgkin” in a Sentence
[diagnosed with] Hodgkin's lymphoma[suffer from] Hodgkin's disease[the work of] HodgkinVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hodgkin” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Hodgkin lymphoma prognosis has improved.
- She studied Hodgkin cell morphology.
American English
- He has Hodgkin lymphoma.
- The Hodgkin's disease diagnosis was confirmed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical literature and history of science (e.g., 'Hodgkin's research on insulin').
Everyday
Rare, only in discussions of specific health issues.
Technical
Core term in oncology and hematology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hodgkin”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hodgkin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hodgkin”
- Writing 'Hodgkins' (with an apostrophe 's' in the disease name is correct; adding a second 's' is not).
- Using lowercase ('hodgkin').
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a hodgkin').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a proper noun (a surname) used as an eponym for a medical condition. It should always be capitalized.
They are two main categories of lymphoma, differing in the type of lymphocyte affected and the presence of specific abnormal cells (Reed-Sternberg cells in Hodgkin lymphoma).
A British chemist who won the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for determining the structures of important biochemical substances, including penicillin and vitamin B12, using X-ray crystallography.
Yes, the terms are synonymous, though 'Hodgkin lymphoma' or 'Hodgkin's lymphoma' is now the preferred modern medical terminology.
A proper noun, primarily referring to the surname of the scientist Dorothy Hodgkin, or associated with the medical condition named after Thomas Hodgkin.
Hodgkin is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Hodgkin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒdʒkɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːdʒkɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The HODGe doctor KINdly explained the lymphoma.' Hodge (as in hedge) + kin.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for a proper noun/medical eponym.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Hodgkin' primarily associated with?