Meanings
nounanoikis (uncountable)
- uncountablebiologyThe form of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, that occurs when a cell becomes dislodged from its matrix
Loss of matrix attachment of cultured epithelial cells activates a caspase-mediated apoptotic program known as anoikis.
2009 August 19, Zachary T. Schafer et al., “Antioxidant and oncogene rescue of metabolic defects caused by loss of matrix attachment”, in Nature, volume 461, number 7260, →DOI, pages 109–113
Origin
Pseudo-Greek coinage intended to have the sense of "homelessness". Compare Ancient Greek ἄνοικος (ánoikos, “homeless wanderer”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Portuguese anoiquia
- anoiquiacell death that occurs when a it becomes dislodged from its matrix
Cite this entry
APA
anoikis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anoikis
MLA
“anoikis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anoikis. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “anoikis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/anoikis.
Source: anoikis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.