Addison's disease

noun

Ad·​di·​son's disease ˈa-də-sənz- How to pronounce Addison's disease (audio)
: a destructive disease marked by deficient adrenocortical secretion and characterized by extreme weakness, loss of weight, low blood pressure, gastrointestinal disturbances, and brownish pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes

Examples of Addison's disease in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Allison, 21, from South Lyon, Michigan, was diagnosed with Addison's disease, a rare disorder in which her adrenal glands don't produce enough cortisol and aldosterone. Allison Moses, USA Today, 2 July 2025 Injuries, certain medications, infections, skin conditions, and endocrine disorders like Addison's disease or hyperthyroidism can also cause a black line on one or more of your nails. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 10 Oct. 2024 The cub's father, Nam Pang, died of Addison's disease a month before the cub was born, The Guardian reported. Giovana Gelhoren, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

after Thomas Addison †1860 English physician

First Known Use

circa 1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Addison's disease was circa 1856

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Cite this Entry

“Addison's disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Addison%27s%20disease. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

Addison's disease

noun
: a rare disease marked by deficient secretion of adrenocortical hormones (such as cortisol) that is characterized by fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, irritability or depression, and brownish pigmentation of the skin and is caused by progressive destruction of the adrenal glands (as by an autoimmune response or infection)
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