familial hypercholesterolemia

noun

: an inherited metabolic disorder marked by excess accumulation of LDL cholesterol in the blood resulting especially in atherosclerosis and irregular yellow skin lesions

Examples of familial hypercholesterolemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For example, people with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that causes high LDL cholesterol levels, are more sensitive to dietary fats. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 15 Jan. 2025 Though your body needs fat to function and fat isn't inherently bad for your health, some people, such as those with familial hypercholesterolemia, are more sensitive to high-fat, high-cholesterol foods like cheese. — Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of familial hypercholesterolemia was in 1966

Rhymes for familial hypercholesterolemia

See All Rhymes for familial hypercholesterolemia

Browse Nearby Entries

familial hypercholesterolemia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Familial hypercholesterolemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familial%20hypercholesterolemia. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Medical Definition

familial hypercholesterolemia

noun
: a disorder of lipid metabolism that is caused by defective or absent receptors for LDLs on cell surfaces, that is marked by an increase in blood plasma LDLs and by an accumulation of LDLs in the body (as in connective tissue) resulting in xanthomas, atherosclerosis, and an increased risk of heart attack and coronary artery disease, and that is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait

More from Merriam-Webster on familial hypercholesterolemia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about familial hypercholesterolemia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Canceled' or 'cancelled'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

'In Vino Veritas' and Other Latin Phrases to Live By

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'In Vino Veritas' and Other Latin Phrases to Live By

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
clapperboard-popcorn
Hollywood Lingo Quiz Are you a showbiz whiz?
See All