thalassemia

T1H4A1L1A1S1S1E1M3I1A1
/ˌθæləˈsiːmiə/

noun

Any of a group of inherited disorders in which the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is reduced.

Similar
Mediterranean anemiaMediterranean diseasethalassaemiaMediterranean anaemia
OriginAncient Greek θάλασσα →
UncommonScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounthalassemia (plural thalassemias)

plural thalassemias · alternative thalassaemia

  1. medicineAny of a group of inherited disorders in which the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is reduced.

    Synonyms: Mediterranean anemia, Mediterranean disease

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of a group of inherited disorders in which the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is reduced.

Similar
Mediterranean anemiaMediterranean disease

More synonyms by meaning

nounan inherited form of anemia caused by faulty synthesis of hemoglobin

Similar
thalassaemiaMediterranean anemiaMediterranean anaemia
Broader
hypochromic anemiahypochromic anaemiamonogenic disordermonogenic disease
Also see
mediterranean anemiamediterranean disease

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekθάλασσα“sea”
  2. Englishthalassemia

From Ancient Greek θάλασσα (thálassa, “sea”) (see also thalass-) and -emia (“blood”) (from αἷμα (haîma)). The etymology is suggestive of the epidemiology of the disorder, which is more common in people of Mediterranean descent. First attested in 1932.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan talassèmia
  • talassèmiaTranslations
Chinese Cantonese 地中海貧血 /地中海贫血, 海洋性貧血 /海洋性贫血
  • 地中海貧血 /地中海贫血 (dei⁶ zung¹ hoi² pan⁴ hyut³)Translations
  • 海洋性貧血 /海洋性贫血 (hoi² joeng⁴ sing³ pan⁴ hyut³)Translations
  • 地貧 /地贫 (dei⁶ pan⁴)Translations
Chinese Mandarin 地中海貧血 /地中海贫血, 海洋性貧血 /海洋性贫血
  • 地中海貧血 /地中海贫血 (Dìzhōnghǎi pínxuè, Dìzhōnghǎi pínxiě)Translations
  • 海洋性貧血 /海洋性贫血 (hǎiyángxìng pínxuè, hǎiyángxìng pínxiě)Translations
  • 地貧 /地贫 (dìpín)Translations
Finnish talassemia
  • talassemiaTranslations
French thalassémie
  • thalassémieTranslations
German Thalassämie
  • ThalassämieTranslations
Persian تالاسمی
  • تالاسمی (tâlâsemi)Translations
Portuguese talassemia
  • talassemiaTranslations
Spanish talasemia
  • talasemiaTranslations
Turkish talasemi
  • talasemiTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

thalassemia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thalassemia

MLA

“thalassemia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thalassemia. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “thalassemia,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thalassemia.

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