noun
Uncommon
allergy
AL-uh-jee
Allergy (noun) means a condition in which the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, causing symptoms such as sneezing, rashes, or swelling. Example: “His allergy to pollen gets worse every spring.”
noun
1
A condition in which the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, causing symptoms such as sneezing, rashes, or swelling.
"His allergy to pollen gets worse every spring."
"The school keeps a list of children with food allergies."
"Her allergy to cats means she sneezes as soon as she enters the house."
2
A strong dislike or aversion, used figuratively.
"He has a real allergy to paperwork."
"My brother has an allergy to early mornings and never leaves bed before ten."
"Many teenagers seem to have an allergy to tidying their bedrooms."
How to use allergy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn oversensitive immune reaction to something ordinarily harmless, like pollen, nuts, or pet hair.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
food allergy
severe allergy
develop an allergy
trigger an allergy
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like allergy.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- allergies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ to pollen gets worse every spring.
Etymology
Coined in 1906 by the Austrian doctor Clemens von Pirquet, combining Greek allos ("other") and ergon ("work, reaction") to describe the immune system reacting abnormally.
Class of 1906
allergy joined the language around 1906.
See the full Class of 1906 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for allergy
See all rhymes for allergy →Frequently asked questions
What does “allergy” mean?
The word “allergy” means a condition in which the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, causing symptoms such as sneezing, rashes, or swelling. In plain terms, an oversensitive immune reaction to something ordinarily harmless, like pollen, nuts, or pet hair.
How do you pronounce “allergy”?
“Allergy” is pronounced AL-uh-jee ([ˈæl.ɚ.d͡ʒi] in IPA).
How do you use “allergy” in a sentence?
Here is “allergy” used in a sentence: “His allergy to pollen gets worse every spring.”
What is another word for “allergy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “allergy” include type 1 hypersensitivity.
What part of speech is “allergy”?
“Allergy” is a noun.
Where does the word “allergy” come from?
The word “allergy” dates back to around 1906 and comes from Greek. Coined in 1906 by the Austrian doctor Clemens von Pirquet, combining Greek allos ("other") and ergon ("work, reaction") to describe the immune system reacting abnormally.
Is “allergy” a common word?
“Allergy” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “allergy” have?
“Allergy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a condition in which the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance, causing symptoms such as sneezing, rashes, or swelling.
What is the difference between an allergy and an intolerance?
An allergy involves the immune system overreacting to a normally harmless substance, producing symptoms such as sneezing, rashes, or swelling. An intolerance, by contrast, typically involves the digestive system reacting to a substance without immune system involvement, and is generally less severe.
Can "allergy" be used figuratively?
Yes, "allergy" can be used figuratively to describe a strong dislike or aversion to something, such as "an allergy to paperwork." In this sense, it has nothing to do with the immune system and simply emphasizes intense distaste.
Is it correct to say "allergy to" or "allergy of"?
"Allergy to" is the correct and standard preposition, as in "an allergy to peanuts" or "an allergy to pollen." "Allergy of" is not idiomatic English usage.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include allergy:
