'alopecia' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'alopekia', where 'alopex' meant 'fox', referring to the loss of hair similar to the shedding of a fox's fur.

'alopekia' transformed into the Latin word 'alopecia', and eventually became the modern English word 'alopecia'.

Initially, it meant 'loss of hair', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.