# atrophy

/ˈætɹəfi/ (US) · /ˈætɹəfi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. wasting of body tissue

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process where a body part, like a muscle, gets smaller and weaker because of illness or lack of movement.

For teachers: the progressive degeneration or shrinkage of muscle or nerve tissue, typically resulting from disease or prolonged physical inactivity.

- After six weeks in a cast, the muscles in his leg showed signs of atrophy.
- The patient exhibited significant muscular atrophy in the lower limbs following several months of enforced bed rest.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun in medical contexts.

### 2. decline of a skill or power

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the loss of a skill, ability, or power because you do not use it enough.

For teachers: a gradual decline in effectiveness or vigour due to underuse or neglect.

- The atrophy of his social skills was obvious after he spent a year living alone.
- Critics argued that the constant use of calculators led to a general atrophy of basic mental arithmetic skills among students.

### 3. to waste away

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic

to become weak or smaller because of lack of use.

For teachers: to undergo the process of wasting away or becoming ineffective; to wither.

- Without regular practice, your ability to speak a second language will slowly atrophy.
- The political movement began to atrophy once its primary objectives were met and the leadership lost its sense of purpose.

Usage: Primarily used as an intransitive verb.

## Examples

- The muscle atrophy is a common side effect of long periods of bed rest.
- After months of not playing the piano, he noticed significant atrophy in his fingers and had to relearn the basics.
- The study examined how cognitive atrophy progresses in patients with early-stage dementia, focusing on the decline of memory and executive function over a five-year period.

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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.