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What is the origin of alopecia?
Doctors use "alopecia" to refer to various forms of hair loss, including "alopecia areata," a sudden loss of hair in patches that involves little or no inflammation. It may surprise you to learn that the word ultimately derives from "alōpēx," the Greek word for "fox," but the connection makes sense if you think of a fox who is afflicted with mange, a disease with symptoms that include, among other things, loss of hair. Middle English speakers borrowed the Latin word alopecia, which comes from "alōpekia," a Greek term that can be translated as "mange on foxes."
Examples of alopecia in a Sentence
Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
In 2025, Ozog joined more than 20 specialists in a major consensus review, which concluded that the therapy was safe and effective for several types of ulcer, peripheral neuropathy, acute radiation dermatitis and androgenic alopecia, a type of pattern hair loss.
—Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends avoiding high ponytails and other tight hairstyles that can pull on the hairline, leading to traction alopecia (hair loss due to pulling).
—Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Unlike medical treatments such as minoxidil, microblading does not alter disease progression and will not treat the biological causes of hair loss, including androgenetic alopecia, traction alopecia, telogen effluvium, and scalp inflammation.
—Tatiana Dias, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Alopecia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alopecia. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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alopecia
noun
