scoliosis

noun

sco·​li·​o·​sis ˌskō-lē-ˈō-səs 

plural scolioses ˌskō-lē-ˈō-ˌsēz 

: a lateral curvature of the spine

scoliotic

ˌskō-lē-ˈä-tik 

adjective

Examples of scoliosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This luxury mattress style is geared for sleepers with chronic joint and back pain caused by sciatica, arthritis, herniated disc, and scoliosis. —Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2026

Millions of children live with scoliosis, but not every child will wear a back brace or undergo surgery. —Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 4 Jan. 2026

Anne Marie Hukriede has three times appealed her insurance company’s decision not to cover her daughter’s scoliosis surgery. —Kate Snow, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

The emeralds brought a pop of color to the diamond and platinum Art Deco tiara, and Prince Andrew's daughter skipped a veil to show her spinal scar from a childhood scoliosis surgery. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin scoliōsis, borrowed from Greek skolíōsis "slanted or crooked state, curvature of the spine," from skoliō-, variant stem of skolióomai, skolioûsthai "to be bent or crooked" (verbal derivative of skoliós "bent, crooked, askew") + -sis -sis — more at isosceles

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scoliosis

• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• ankylosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis
• dermatosis
• diagnosis
• ecchymosis
• exostosis

Kids Definition

scoliosis

noun

sco·​li·​o·​sis ˌskō-lē-ˈō-səs 

plural scolioses -ˌsēz 

: an abnormal sideways curving of the spine

Medical Definition

scoliosis

noun

sco·​li·​o·​sis ˌskō-lē-ˈō-səs 

plural scolioses -ˌsēz 

: a lateral curvature of the spine compare kyphosis, lordosis sense 2

scoliotic

-ˈät-ik 

adjective