What does acromegaly mean?
Acromegaly is a rare hormonal disorder that occurs when the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone in adulthood, most often because of a benign tumour called an adenoma. Because the long bones have already stopped growing, the excess hormone causes tissues to enlarge instead: hands and feet swell, facial features coarsen, the jaw protrudes, and rings or shoes no longer fit. The condition develops gradually, frequently going undiagnosed for years, and if untreated it can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and joint problems. Treatment typically involves surgery, medication, or radiation to reduce hormone levels. The word derives from Greek roots meaning 'extremities' and 'large', literally describing 'enlargement of the extremities'. Acromegaly appears mainly in medical writing and health journalism, and it should be distinguished from gigantism, which arises when the same hormonal excess begins in childhood.
nounA rare hormonal disorder in which the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone in adulthood, causing gradual enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features.
- A chronic endocrine disorder caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland after skeletal maturity, leading to enlargement of the hands, feet, face, and soft tissues.
"Her ring no longer fit, and doctors eventually traced the change to acromegaly caused by a pituitary tumour."
"Acromegaly usually develops slowly, so patients may go years before noticing the gradual coarsening of their features."
"The endocrinologist ordered a glucose tolerance test to confirm the diagnosis of acromegaly."
Rarely used; acromegaly is almost always treated as an uncountable noun referring to the single medical condition.
"The textbook compared documented cases of acromegalies arising from different types of pituitary tumours."
The name literally means 'enlargement of the extremities' — and it explains why André the Giant kept growing well into adulthood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of acromegaly
The word acromegaly was coined in the late nineteenth century by French neurologist Pierre Marie, who gave the condition its first detailed clinical description. It combines the Greek roots 'akros', meaning 'extreme' or 'outermost' (as in the extremities), and 'megas', meaning 'large', together with the '-y' suffix used for medical conditions. The same Greek elements appear in many other English words: 'acro-' surfaces in acropolis and acrophobia, while 'mega-' underlies megalith and megaphone.
Related word forms
How acromegaly is actually used
A formal medical term used almost exclusively in clinical, scientific, and health-journalism contexts; it rarely appears in everyday conversation. It carries no figurative or informal usage.
Easily confused with acromegaly
Gigantism results from excess growth hormone beginning in childhood before the growth plates close, producing extreme height, whereas acromegaly begins in adulthood, when bones can only thicken rather than lengthen.