progeria Hear it!

progeria Definition

pro·ger·ia (prō jir′ē ə)

noun

a rare genetic disorder, esp. of early childhood, characterized by premature aging

Etymology: ModL < Gr progērōs, prematurely old < pro, before + gēras, old age + -ia

progeria Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • syndrome: The condition, which is officially called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome ( HGPS ), affects one in four million children.
  • patient: NIH DOCTOR: Some progeria patients make it to early adulthood but others become terminal at age seven or eight.