osteoarthritis

American  

[os-tee-oh-ahr-thrahy-tis] / ˌɒs ti oʊ ɑrˈθraɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. the most common form of arthritis, usually occurring after middle age, marked by chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.

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osteoarthritis British  

/ ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθrɪtɪk, ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθraɪtɪs /

noun

1. Also called: degenerative joint disease.  chronic inflammation of the joints, esp those that bear weight, with pain and stiffness

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osteoarthritis Scientific  

/ ŏs′tē-ō-är-thrī′tĭs /

1. A form of arthritis, occurring mainly in older people, that is characterized by chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints.

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Other Word Forms

• osteoarthritic adjective

Etymology

Origin of osteoarthritis

First recorded in 1875–80; osteo- + arthritis

Example Sentences

These medications have reshaped how obesity and the overweight are treated and opened the door to a new scientific field that’s assessing GLP-1s for everything from osteoarthritis to alcohol addiction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

McPaul had been a resident at the care home since 2009 and suffered from osteoarthritis and chronic oedema, while having a history of choking on his food.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

But osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease worldwide, is not being treated in line with what research actually shows.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

It can biologically and physically lower the risk of developing osteoarthritis and reduce its severity.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Figure 217, taken from Hutchinson's "Archives of Surgery," represents an extreme case of deformity of the knee-joints in a boy of seven, the result of severe osteoarthritis.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)