Anhedonia

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ËŒan.hɪˈdəʊ.nɪə/
• US IPA: /ˌæn.hiˈdoÊŠ.ni.É™/

Origin

From French anhédonie (coined by Théodule-Armand Ribot, 1896), from Ancient Greek ἀν- + ἡδονή ("pleasure").

Full definition of anhedonia

Noun

1. (symptom, psychiatry) The inability to feel pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable, such as exercise, hobbies, music, sexual activities or social interactions.
• 1902, William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience, Folio Society 2008, p. 123:Sometimes it is mere passive joylessness and dreariness, discouragement, dejection, lack of taste and zest and spring. Professor Ribot has proposed the name anhedonia to designate this condition.

Derived terms

• anhedonic