allergies

IPA/ˈæl.ə.dʒi/
KK[ˈælɚdʒiz]IPA/ˈæl.ɚ.dʒi/

allergies — noun

  • allergiessingular
  • allergiesesplural

1. a medical condition in which a person's body reacts badly to a normally harmless

1.nounB1
Definition

a medical condition in which a person's body reacts badly to a normally harmless substance — such as pollen, dust, certain foods, or animal hair — causing symptoms like sneezing, a rash, swollen eyes, or difficulty breathing

Example

Shirin has severe allergies to peanuts and always reads food labels before buying anything.

has + allergies to [substance]; always + [precautionary action]

Nikhil's dust allergies were so bad that his mother had to vacuum the house twice a week.

possessive + allergies + were + [result clause]

Common collocations
  • have allergies
  • suffer from allergies
  • trigger allergies
  • seasonal allergies
  • food allergies
  • severe allergies
  • dust allergies
  • pet allergies
  • allergy symptoms
  • allergy test
Synonyms
  • hypersensitivity

    more clinical term used by doctors; covers a broader range of overreactions including non-allergic ones

  • intolerance

    often used for food reactions that do not involve the immune system, e.g. lactose intolerance; generally milder than an allergy

  • sensitivity

    broader and less clinical; can refer to mild or non-medical reactions to substances

Antonyms
  • immunity

    the opposite state: the body is able to resist or tolerate a substance without reacting

Grammar Patterns

have + allergies

suffer from + allergies

allergies to + [substance]

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'allergies' even when referring to a single person's overall condition. The singular 'allergy' is also common with an article ('She has an allergy to latex'). The noun can be countable ('three different allergies') or uncountable ('suffering from allergy').

Common Mistakes

I have allergy to peanuts.
I have allergies to peanuts.' or 'I have an allergy to peanuts.
'allergy' is a countable noun and requires a determiner or plural form.
This food gives me allergy.
This food gives me allergies.' or 'I am allergic to this food.
'allergic' is the correct adjective form; 'allergy' as a direct object after 'give' needs to be plural or use 'an allergy'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Allergy' (B1) is the standard term for a specific immune-system reaction to a trigger substance, such as pollen or peanuts, and is diagnosed by a medical professional. 'Intolerance' (B2) describes negative bodily responses that do not involve the immune system — for example, lactose intolerance means a person lacks the enzyme to digest milk, but they can tolerate small amounts without a severe reaction. 'Sensitivity' (B1) is a broader, less clinical word used in everyday conversation ('I have a sensitivity to caffeine'), and may or may not have a medical basis. 'Hypersensitivity' (C1) is the technical term used by immunologists; it covers allergic reactions as well as other exaggerated immune responses. A person might say they have a 'gluten sensitivity', but only a doctor can confirm a 'wheat allergy' through proper testing.

allergy ↗intolerance ↗sensitivity ↗hypersensitivity ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • allergy attack
  • allergy symptoms
  • allergy medication

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekGermanEnglish

Coined in 1906 by Austrian pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet from German 'Allergie', which he built from Greek 'allos' (other, different) and 'ergon' (work, activity). The literal meaning is 'altered reaction' — describing how the body reacts differently to a substance on second exposure compared with the first.

First known use

1908

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1