hypoallergenic
English
Etymology
Coined between 1950 and 1955 from hypo- + allergenic.[1] Some say that it was coined by advertisers in 1953.[2] Merriam-Webster puts the date at 1940.[3]
Pronunciation
Adjective
hypoallergenic
- Containing fewer allergens; minimally allergenic.
- (immunology) Relating to a hypoallergen.
Usage notes
The first sense of the term is used by advertisers for cosmetics, jewelry, pets, food, and so on, but it does not have a precise medical meaning. The FDA tells consumers, “There are no federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term hypoallergenic. The term hypoallergenic means whatever a particular company wants it to mean.”[2]
Synonyms
Translations
containing few allergens
|
References
- “hypoallergenic”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- Carmel Smyth (2000 October 3) “Hypoallergenic: What's in a Word?”, in Marketplace Microscope, CBC, archived from the original on 10 June 2004
- “hypoallergenic”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.