progeria

P3R1O1G2E1R1I1A1
/pɹoʊˈd͡ʒɪ(ə)ɹiə/

noun

An extremely rare genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age.

UncommonScrabble 11

Meanings

nounprogeria (countable and uncountable, plural progerias)

plural progerias

  1. countableuncountablemedicineAn extremely rare genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age.

    Hutchinson Gilford progeria syndrome (progeria) is a rare childhood disease, affecting 1 in 4 million births worldwide (Hennekam, 2006) and recapitulates certain aspects of the normal aging process at an accelerated rate.

    2015, Ingrid A. Harten, Michelle Olive, Thomas N. Wright, “16: Vascular Disease in Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome and Aging: Common Phenotypes and Potential Mechanisms”, in Matt Kaeberlein, George Martin, editors, Handbook of the Biology of Aging, 8th edition, page 434
    2 more examples

    Hutchinson–Gilford syndrome or progeria (derived from pro, before, and geras, old age) is characterized by premature ageing (Fig. 18.1) and the early onset of age-related symptoms such as joint restriction and cerebral and myocardial infarction. Progeria occurs in about one in eight million people (DeBusk, 1972), but the true incidence may be somewhat higher (Sarkar and Shinton, 2001).

    2004, E. S. Roach, “18: Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome”, in E. Steve Roach, Van S. Miller, editors, Neurocutaneous Disorders, page 150

    Hutchinson-Gilford progeria is a syndrome commonly characterized by accelerated aging. Children affected by progeria have a life expectancy of approximately 13 years. Progeria results from damage to the LMNA gene that codes for the protein lamin A.

    2007, Carie Ann Braun, Cindy Miller Anderson, Pathophysiology: Functional Alterations in Human Health, page 436

    Synonyms: Benjamin Button disease, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, Hutchinson–Gilford syndrome

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn extremely rare genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aspects of aging are manifested at an early age.

Origin

From Ancient Greek προγήρως (progḗrōs, “prematurely old”) + -ia.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 早衰症, 早老症
  • 早衰症 (zǎoshuāizhèng)genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
  • 早老症 (zǎolǎozhèng)genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Finnish progeria
  • progeriagenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
French progéria
  • progériagenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Hebrew פרוגריה
  • פרוגריהgenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Hindi प्रोजेरिया
  • प्रोजेरिया (projeriyā)genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Italian progeria
  • progeriagenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Japanese 早老症
  • 早老症 (sōrōshō)genetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Portuguese progéria, progeria
  • progériagenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
  • progeriagenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age
Spanish progeria
  • progeriagenetic condition wherein symptoms resembling aging are manifested at an early age

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with progeria

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

progeria. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/progeria

MLA

“progeria.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/progeria. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “progeria,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/progeria.

Source: progeria on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.