# anemia

/əˈnimiə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/anemia
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. medical condition

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical · American English

a condition where your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to your body.

For teachers: a medical condition in which the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen is reduced due to a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

- The doctor suggested eating more spinach to help treat her anemia.
- Severe anemia can lead to chronic fatigue and shortness of breath, as the heart works harder to pump oxygen-depleted blood through the body.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the condition in general; countable when referring to specific types (e.g., 'a sickle-cell anemia').

Teaching tip: Note the spelling difference: 'anemia' is American English, while 'anaemia' is British English.

### 2. lack of energy or power

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a lack of energy, spirit, or strength in something like a performance or a piece of writing.

For teachers: a figurative lack of vitality, power, or substance in a creative or intellectual work.

- The critic complained about the anemia of the new play's dialogue.
- The film suffered from a certain narrative anemia, failing to engage the audience despite its impressive visual effects.

Usage: Used metaphorically to describe things that lack 'life' or 'blood'.

## Examples

- The doctor says her tiredness is caused by iron-deficiency anemia.
- After several weeks of feeling unusually exhausted, he was diagnosed with anemia and prescribed iron supplements.
- Chronic anemia can lead to significant cardiovascular strain as the heart attempts to compensate for the blood's diminished ability to transport oxygen to vital organs.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.