allergic
Allergic (adjective) means having an allergy to something; reacting badly to a particular substance. Example: “She is allergic to peanuts and always checks food labels.”
How to use allergic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a bad physical reaction to something, or (informally) having a strong dislike of something.
Word forms
more allergic comparative, allergics plural, most allergic superlative
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Can you complete this real example?
She is _____ to peanuts and always checks food labels.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “allergic” mean?
The word “allergic” means having an allergy to something; reacting badly to a particular substance. In plain terms, having a bad physical reaction to something, or (informally) having a strong dislike of something.
How do you pronounce “allergic”?
“Allergic” is pronounced uh-LUR-jihk (/əˈlɝ.d͡ʒɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “allergic” in a sentence?
Here is “allergic” used in a sentence: “She is allergic to peanuts and always checks food labels.”
What part of speech is “allergic”?
“Allergic” is an adjective.
Is “allergic” a common word?
“Allergic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “allergic” have?
“Allergic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having an allergy to something; reacting badly to a particular substance.
What preposition follows "allergic" — "allergic to" or "allergic of"?
"Allergic" is always followed by "to," as in "allergic to peanuts" or "allergic to cats." "Allergic of" is a common mistake and is not standard English.
Can "allergic" be used figuratively, outside of medical contexts?
Yes. "Allergic" is often used humorously to mean strongly averse to something, as in "he's allergic to hard work." This figurative use keeps the same "allergic to" structure but doesn't describe a real physical reaction.
What is the difference between "allergic" and "sensitive"?
"Allergic" specifically describes the body's immune reaction to a substance, such as pollen or a food. "Sensitive" is broader and can describe mild discomfort or intolerance without an actual allergic reaction, so the two are related but not interchangeable.
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