What does hemophilia mean?
Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. It most often results from a deficiency of factor VIII or factor IX, proteins needed for the coagulation process, and may cause prolonged bleeding, bruising, joint damage, or internal bleeding. The two principal inherited forms are hemophilia A, associated with factor VIII deficiency, and hemophilia B, associated with factor IX deficiency. Hemophilia is inherited primarily in an X-linked pattern and consequently affects most people who inherit it male, although females can carry the affected gene and may sometimes have symptoms. Medical terminology distinguishes the condition from other causes of abnormal bleeding, including platelet disorders and vitamin K deficiency. In everyday use, the word has a clinical and sometimes serious connotation, but it is not itself a synonym for being careless with money, as the unrelated expression “lose money like a haemophiliac” can suggest. The term is therefore best understood in medical, educational, and biographical contexts.
nounAn inherited bleeding disorder, usually X-linked, caused by a deficiency of a blood-clotting factor, most commonly factor VIII or factor IX. It can cause prolonged or excessive bleeding after injury or surgery.
- A genetic bleeding disorder caused by deficient or defective blood-clotting factors, usually inherited through an X-linked gene and characterized by prolonged bleeding.
"The clinic provides specialized treatment and support for children with hemophilia."
"People with hemophilia require specialized care to prevent bleeding and manage injuries."
"The documentary explores how modern treatments have transformed life with hemophilia."
The plural is uncommon in general use but is standard when referring to the disorder in multiple cases or discussing different types.
"Severe hemophilias are uncommon and require specialist treatment."
Hemophilia A was once called Christmas disease, because the factor VIII deficiency responsible for it was first identified in a Christmas-season family.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hemophilia come from?
Hemophilia was formed from Greek haima, meaning “blood,” and the combining element -philia, associated with philos, “loving,” and expressing a tendency or affinity. The name thus refers to a pathological affinity or disposition of the blood, reflecting early medical attempts to describe the condition as a distinct disease. Its related vocabulary includes hemorrhage, hematology, hemoglobin, and hematuria, all of which share the Greek blood root.
Related word forms
How hemophilia is actually used
Primarily a medical and public-health term. In American English, hemophilia is standard; haemophilia is the usual British spelling. The term can occasionally be used figuratively in discussions of sports or dangerous activities to emphasize the need for caution, though such usage is informal and potentially insensitive.
Easily confused with hemophilia
Haemophilia and hemophilia refer to the same disorder; haemophilia is the traditional British spelling, while hemophilia is standard in American English.