ametropia

noun

am·​e·​tro·​pia ˌa-mə-ˈtrō-pē-ə How to pronounce ametropia (audio)
: an abnormal refractive condition (such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism) of the eye in which images fail to focus upon the retina
ametropic
ˌa-mə-ˈtrō-pik How to pronounce ametropia (audio)
-ˈträ-
adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Dutch ametropie, from Greek ámetros "unmeasurable, ill-proportioned" (from a- a- entry 2 + -metros, adjective derivative of métron "measure, (in plural) proportions") + -opie -opia — more at meter entry 1

Note: The term was introduced by the Dutch ophthalmologist Franciscus Cornelius Donders (1818-89) in Ametropie en hare gevolgen (Utrecht, 1860), pp. xi-xii.

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ametropia was in 1860

Rhymes for ametropia

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Browse Nearby Words

amethystine
ametropia
Amex
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Cite this Entry

“Ametropia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ametropia. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

ametropia

noun
am·​e·​tro·​pia ˌam-ə-ˈtrō-pē-ə How to pronounce ametropia (audio)
: an abnormal refractive eye condition (as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism) in which images fail to focus upon the retina
ametropic
-ˈtrō-pik How to pronounce ametropia (audio) -ˈträp-ik How to pronounce ametropia (audio)
adjective
Last Updated: - Definition revised
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