ariboflavinosis
|a-ri-bo-fla-vi-no-sis|
🇺🇸
/ˌærɪbəflævɪˈnoʊsɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌærɪbəflævɪˈnəʊsɪs/
disease from lack of riboflavin
Etymology
'ariboflavinosis' originates from New Latin/medical coinage, formed from the prefix 'a-' meaning 'without' or 'lack of', the noun 'riboflavin' (the name of the vitamin), and the suffix '-osis' meaning 'disease' or 'abnormal condition'.
'ariboflavinosis' was formed in medical English in the 20th century by combining 'a-' + 'riboflavin' + '-osis' to denote the condition caused by absence of riboflavin; it entered clinical and nutritional literature as a technical term for riboflavin deficiency disease.
Initially coined to mean 'a disease due to absence of riboflavin,' it has retained that specific medical meaning and continues to denote riboflavin deficiency.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a deficiency disease caused by lack of riboflavin (vitamin B2), characterized by symptoms such as cheilosis (cracking at the corners of the mouth), glossitis (inflamed tongue), dermatitis, and sometimes anemia.
Ariboflavinosis results from a deficiency of riboflavin and is characterized by cheilosis, glossitis, and dermatitis.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/13 18:42