HealthAugust 23, 2026

anaphylactic

an-uh-fuh-LAK-tik

Definition

Relating to or causing a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that can lead to shock and respiratory distress.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'ana' (against) and 'phylaxis' (protection), it was coined in the early 20th century to describe a reaction that is the opposite of protective immunity.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the extreme, life-threatening danger of an allergic or immune shock response that could potentially result from using a contaminated medical supplement.

Officials warn wildland firefighters about the risks of using a supplement for smoke exposure

Read the full article ↗

ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.