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osteoarthritis

American

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

noun

Pathology.

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.

osteoarthritis British

/ ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθrɪtɪk, ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθraɪtɪs /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

osteoarthritis Scientific

/ ŏs′tē-ō-är-thrī′tĭs /

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

Other Word Forms

osteoarthritic adjective

Etymology

Origin of osteoarthritis

First recorded in 1875–80; osteo- + arthritis

Vocabulary lists containing osteoarthritis

Body Language: Os, Osteo ("Bone")

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

This can happen after cancer treatment, severe joint diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, or serious infections.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

This is why describing osteoarthritis as simple "wear and tear" is misleading.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

One form of this, commonly seen in old men, called osteoarthritis, is often confined to the hip joint, and often produces considerable deformity.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023