rheumatoid arthritis

noun

: a usually chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints

—abbreviation RA compare osteoarthritis

Examples of rheumatoid arthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lemke’s work showed how problems with TAM receptors or their pathways are associated with drug-resistant cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025

May Improve Inflammatory Joint Diseases Research indicates that consuming olive oil may have advantages for people with inflammatory joint disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025

Take Humira, for example, an expensive rheumatoid arthritis drug derived from biotechnology that at its peak generated more than $20 billion in annual sales as the world’s top selling drug for its maker, Abbvie. —Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

However, this therapy is not currently offered for joints affected by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus arthritis, active joint infections, or fractures. —Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rheumatoid arthritis

• diverticulitis
• epididymitis
• osteoarthritis
• periodontitis
• polymyositis
• pyelonephritis
• tenosynovitis
• adenitis
• arteritis
• blepharitis
• cervicitis
• cholangitis

Medical Definition

rheumatoid arthritis

noun

: a usually chronic disease that is considered an autoimmune disease and is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints

—abbreviation RA

called also atrophic arthritis

compare osteoarthritis