dystrophy Definition
- 1a disorder in which an organ or tissue of the body wastes away
- 2any of a number of disorders characterized by weakening, degeneration, or abnormal development of muscle
Using dystrophy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dystrophy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles.
Example
Osteoarthritis is a type of joint dystrophy that causes the cartilage to break down.
Example
Retinal dystrophy is a group of inherited disorders that cause progressive vision loss.
dystrophy Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for dystrophy
- atrophy
- degeneration
- wasting
Phrases with dystrophy
a genetic disorder characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of skeletal muscles
Example
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common form of muscular dystrophy.
a genetic disorder that affects the muscles of the face, shoulders, and upper arms
Example
Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophy.
Example
Myotonic dystrophy is the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.
Origins of dystrophy
from Greek 'dys-' meaning 'bad' + 'trophe' meaning 'nourishment'
Summary: dystrophy in Brief
The term 'dystrophy' [dis-truh-fee] refers to a group of disorders characterized by weakening, degeneration, or abnormal development of muscle or organs. Examples include muscular dystrophy, osteoarthritis, and retinal dystrophy. 'Dystrophy' is often used in medical contexts and has formal synonyms like 'atrophy' and 'degeneration.'