First Known Use: 1910
Dictionary
allergy
noun al·ler·gy \ˈa-lər-jē\
: a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people
plural al·ler·gies
Full Definition of ALLERGY
1
: altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure <a bee venom allergy so severe that a second sting may be fatal>
2
: exaggerated or pathological immunological reaction (as by sneezing, difficult breathing, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
3
: medical practice concerned with allergies
4
: a feeling of antipathy or aversion
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Origin of ALLERGY
German Allergie, from all- + Greek ergon work — more at work
Related to ALLERGY
- Synonyms
- dislike, averseness, aversion, disfavor, disinclination, disliking, disrelish, down [chiefly British], mislike
ALLERGY Defined for Kids
allergy
noun al·ler·gy \ˈa-lər-jē\
plural al·ler·gies
Definition of ALLERGY for Kids
: a condition in which a person is made sick by something that is harmless to most people
Medical Dictionary
allergy
noun al·ler·gy \ˈal-ər-jē\
plural al·ler·gies
Medical Definition of ALLERGY
1
: altered bodily reactivity (as hypersensitivity) to an antigen in response to a first exposure <his bee-venom allergy may render a second sting fatal>
2
: exaggerated or pathological reaction (as by sneezing, respiratory embarrassment, itching, or skin rashes) to substances, situations, or physical states that are without comparable effect on the average individual
3
: medical practice concerned with allergies
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