Did you know?
What is the origin of alopecia?
Doctors use "alopecia" to refer to various forms of hair loss, including "alopecia areata," a sudden loss of hair in patches that involves little or no inflammation. It may surprise you to learn that the word ultimately derives from "alōpēx," the Greek word for "fox," but the connection makes sense if you think of a fox who is afflicted with mange, a disease with symptoms that include, among other things, loss of hair. Middle English speakers borrowed the Latin word alopecia, which comes from "alōpekia," a Greek term that can be translated as "mange on foxes."
Examples of alopecia in a Sentence
New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025
And while those symptoms are pesky enough, menopause can also cause hair loss and alopecia.
—Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 26 Mar. 2025
Yet, in Maryland, thousands of residents suffering from conditions like alopecia areata, scarring alopecia and lupus are forced to bear the financial burden of purchasing a cranial prosthesis (a wig or hairpiece) out of pocket because insurance does not recognize it as a necessary medical expense.
—Nathan Kattapuram, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025
Other common causes include medical conditions like alopecia areata, scalp psoriasis, lupus, traction alopecia among others.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alopecia
Cite this Entry
“Alopecia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alopecia. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
alopecia
noun
Share