Allergy: meaning, definitions and examples

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allergy

[ ˈælərdʒi ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

medical condition

An allergy is a reaction by your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. People who have allergies often are sensitive to more than one thing.

Synonyms

hypersensitivity, sensitivity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
allergy	Use when someone has a medical condition that causes them to react badly to certain foods, substances, or environmental factors. She has a peanut allergy and needs to avoid all products that contain peanuts. His cat allergy makes it impossible for him to visit homes where cats live.
hypersensitivity	Utilized in medical or scientific contexts to describe an extreme sensitivity of the immune system, which can cause allergic reactions or other adverse responses. The patient showed signs of hypersensitivity to the new medication. Hypersensitivity to sunlight can result in severe skin reactions.
sensitivity	Broad term used in everyday language to describe a heightened reaction to various stimuli, not necessarily related to allergies. Her sensitivity to noise means she prefers living in a quieter neighborhood. He had a sensitivity to certain fabrics that caused skin irritation.

Word

Description / Examples

allergy

Use when someone has a medical condition that causes them to react badly to certain foods, substances, or environmental factors.

She has a peanut allergy and needs to avoid all products that contain peanuts.
His cat allergy makes it impossible for him to visit homes where cats live.

hypersensitivity

Utilized in medical or scientific contexts to describe an extreme sensitivity of the immune system, which can cause allergic reactions or other adverse responses.

The patient showed signs of hypersensitivity to the new medication.
Hypersensitivity to sunlight can result in severe skin reactions.

sensitivity

Broad term used in everyday language to describe a heightened reaction to various stimuli, not necessarily related to allergies.

Her sensitivity to noise means she prefers living in a quieter neighborhood.
He had a sensitivity to certain fabrics that caused skin irritation.

Examples of usage

Allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, such as sneezing, itching, and swelling.
Some common allergens include pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

informal

A strong dislike or aversion.

Synonyms

aversion, dislike.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
allergy	This word is commonly used in medical or health-related situations to describe a body's adverse reaction to a substance, such as pollen, food, or medication. She can't eat peanuts because she has a severe allergy to them. My doctor said my skin rash might be caused by an allergy.
aversion	This word is used to express a strong feeling of dislike or unwillingness, often accompanied by a desire to avoid the disliked object or situation. It can be used in both psychological and everyday contexts. He has an aversion to spiders, so he never goes near them. She developed an aversion to seafood after getting food poisoning.
dislike	This word is used in general contexts to express a mild to moderate degree of not liking something or someone. It can be used in both formal and informal settings. I have a strong dislike for loud music. He dislikes waking up early in the morning.

Word

Description / Examples

allergy

This word is commonly used in medical or health-related situations to describe a body's adverse reaction to a substance, such as pollen, food, or medication.

She can't eat peanuts because she has a severe allergy to them.
My doctor said my skin rash might be caused by an allergy.

aversion

This word is used to express a strong feeling of dislike or unwillingness, often accompanied by a desire to avoid the disliked object or situation. It can be used in both psychological and everyday contexts.

He has an aversion to spiders, so he never goes near them.
She developed an aversion to seafood after getting food poisoning.

dislike

This word is used in general contexts to express a mild to moderate degree of not liking something or someone. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

I have a strong dislike for loud music.
He dislikes waking up early in the morning.

Examples of usage

She has an allergy to early mornings, so don't expect her to be cheerful at breakfast time.
He has an allergy to horror movies and refuses to watch them.

Translations

Translations of the word "allergy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 alergia

🇮🇳 एलर्जी

🇩🇪 Allergie

🇮🇩 alergi

🇺🇦 алергія

🇵🇱 alergia

🇯🇵 アレルギー

🇫🇷 allergie

🇪🇸 alergia

🇹🇷 alerji

🇰🇷 알레르기

🇸🇦 حساسية

🇨🇿 alergie

🇸🇰 alergia

🇨🇳 过敏

🇸🇮 alergija

🇮🇸 ofnæmi

🇰🇿 аллергия

🇬🇪 ალერგია

🇦🇿 allergiya

🇲🇽 alergia

Etymology

The term 'allergy' was first coined by the Viennese pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet in 1906. He used it to describe an altered reaction of the body's immune system to substances that are normally harmless. Over time, research has expanded our understanding of allergies, leading to advancements in diagnosis and treatment.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,863, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

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