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allergic
/əˈlɜːrdʒɪk/
having an allergy
I'm allergic to peanuts, so I can't eat that candy.
The speaker has a medical reaction to peanuts, making it unsafe to consume peanut-containing food.
Medicine
Medical
Having a medical condition where the body reacts negatively to a specific substance.
She is allergic to shellfish, so she avoids seafood restaurants.
Her body reacts adversely when she consumes shellfish.
Many people are allergic to pollen in the spring.
Their immune systems overreact to pollen particles in the air.
Commonly used to describe adverse immune responses to allergens like food, pollen, or insect stings.
informal
Strongly opposed or disapproving of something.
He's allergic to hard work and never stays late at the office.
He strongly dislikes or avoids working hard.
My boss is allergic to meetings longer than 30 minutes.
My boss strongly dislikes or disapproves of meetings that exceed 30 minutes.
Used metaphorically to describe strong aversion or dislike, often humorously.
Collocations
allergic tohaving an adverse reaction tosevere allergya dangerous or intense allergic reactionallergy testa medical procedure to identify allergensallergic reactiona physical response to an allergen
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'intolerant'
'Allergic' implies an immune system response, while 'intolerant' (e.g., lactose intolerant) refers to digestive issues without immune involvement.
Gold Rule
Use 'allergic to' for substances
Always pair 'allergic' with 'to' when referring to allergens (e.g., allergic to cats, allergic to dust).
Medical vs. metaphorical use
In medical contexts, 'allergic' describes physical reactions; in informal speech, it may describe strong dislikes (e.g., 'I'm allergic to bad movies').
Word Origin
From French *allergique*, derived from Greek *allos* (other) + *ergon* (work, reaction), coined in 1906 by pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet to describe altered reactivity.
Usage Notes
In medical contexts, 'allergic' is typically followed by 'to' (e.g., allergic to pollen). In informal contexts, it may describe strong dislikes (e.g., allergic to exercise). Always clarify context to avoid ambiguity.
Word Breakdown
all-
other, different
root-erg-
work, reaction
root-ic
adjective-forming suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary