allergic

adjective

al·​ler·​gic ə-ˈlər-jik How to pronounce allergic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, affected with, or caused by allergy
2
: having an aversion
allergic to work

Examples of allergic in a Sentence

a lover of the outdoors who claims to be allergic to desk jobs
Recent Examples on the Web Among all of the reasons why your face can puff up, allergic reactions are perhaps the most urgent. Katie Camero, SELF, 23 Oct. 2024 Mosquito bites can also leave residual scars, cause allergic reactions, and, in some areas, transmit disease.1 Preventing mosquito bites may be simple or require some real effort, depending on your location and how often you are bitten. Adrienne Dellwo, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2024 Be aware of any foods, medications, or other substances that cause an allergic reaction, and avoid them as much as possible. Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 19 Oct. 2024 False alarms can lead to invasive biopsies that can be painful and cause bleeding, as well as stressful and unnecessary follow-up tests, some of which involve additional radiation exposure or dyes that can cause side effects and allergic reactions. Liz Szabo, NBC News, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for allergic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'allergic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

allergy + -ic entry 1, after German allergisch

Note: See note at allergy.

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of allergic was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near allergic

Cite this Entry

“Allergic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allergic. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

allergic

adjective
al·​ler·​gic ə-ˈlər-jik How to pronounce allergic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, affected with, or caused by allergy
an allergic reaction
2
: having a dislike for something
allergic to hard work

Medical Definition

allergic

adjective
al·​ler·​gic ə-ˈlər-jik How to pronounce allergic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characterized by allergy
an allergic reaction
allergic diseases
2
: affected with allergy : subject to an allergic reaction
he is allergic to pollen
allergically
ə-ˈlər-ji-k(ə-)lē
adverb
The body reacts allergically, the skin reddening and breaking out in tiny blisters. Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

More from Merriam-Webster on allergic

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