atrophy

1 of 2

noun

at·​ro·​phy ˈa-trə-fē How to pronounce atrophy (audio)
plural atrophies
1
: decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue
atrophy of muscles
also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant
2
: a wasting away or progressive decline
It was not a solitude of atrophy, of negation, but of perpetual flowering.Willa Cather
an atrophy of imagination
atrophic adjective

atrophy

2 of 2

verb

at·​ro·​phy ˈa-trə-fē How to pronounce atrophy (audio) -ˌfī How to pronounce atrophy (audio)
atrophied; atrophying; atrophies

transitive + intransitive

: to waste away (as from disease or disuse) : to undergo atrophy
Extended periods of weightlessness resulted in body fluids pooling in the upper torso, causing changes in how the heart pumped blood. In addition, muscles began to atrophy, bones lost calcium and mass …Warren E. Leary
Because of an incomplete spine, only one nerve serviced her legs, causing them to atrophy.Ada Brownell
Communion with nature strengthens both body and soul; isolation from nature causes both to atrophy.Mark Purcell
also : to cause (something) to waste away or undergo atrophy
When reform becomes too theological, it atrophies some forces even while it galvanizes others. John C. Culver
see also atrophied

Did you know?

What Can atrophy?

From its literal Greek roots, atrophy would mean basically "lack of nourishment". Although the English word doesn't usually imply any lack of food, it always refers to a wasting away. Those who have been bedridden for a period of time will notice that their muscles have atrophied. And muscular atrophy is a frequent result of such diseases as cancer and AIDS. We also use atrophy in a much more general sense. After being out of work a few years, you may find your work skills have atrophied; someone who's been living an isolated life may discover the same thing about his or her social skills; and a democracy can atrophy when its citizens cease to pay attention to how they're being governed.

Examples of atrophy in a Sentence

Noun The doctor is concerned about possible atrophy of the shoulder muscles.
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.
Noun
Known to not only help the body heal faster but stimulate muscles deep within the body, relieve cramps and tension and increase blood flow to the area, this is an ideal option for athletes, the elderly or anyone with muscle atrophy issues. Mari Pressley, Charlotte Observer, 3 Mar. 2025 Hippocampal volume preservation: Exercise has been shown to prevent hippocampal atrophy (degeneration or shrinkage) and improve spatial memory, the physician said. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
Its economic position is parlous, its demographic situation is miserable and its military capacities have atrophied, and most of the chest-thumping about a revival of European power is empty talk and fantasy politics. Ross Douthat, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025 Thanks to automation, which had taken over many of their routine tasks, some of their skills had atrophied. IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2011 See All Example Sentences for atrophy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill fed, from a- + trephein to nourish

First Known Use

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of atrophy was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Atrophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atrophy. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

atrophy

1 of 2 noun
at·​ro·​phy
ˈa-trə-fē
plural atrophies
: decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue

atrophy

2 of 2 verb
atrophied; atrophying
: to undergo atrophy

Medical Definition

atrophy

1 of 2 noun
at·​ro·​phy ˈa-trə-fē How to pronounce atrophy (audio)
plural atrophies
: decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue
also : arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal development or life of an animal or plant

atrophy

2 of 2 verb
atrophied; atrophying

intransitive verb

: to undergo atrophy
the inactive muscles atrophied

transitive verb

: to cause to undergo atrophy
disuse atrophied the arm

More from Merriam-Webster on atrophy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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