stenosis

noun

ste·​no·​sis stə-ˈnō-səs 

plural stenoses stə-ˈnō-ˌsēz 

: a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice

stenotic

stə-ˈnä-tik 

adjective

Examples of stenosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pulmonic stenosis is a congenital heart defect where the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs is obstructed, and a grade VI murmur is the most intense type of heart murmur, typically indicating a significant abnormality. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

Spinal Stenosis Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal column. —Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025

People with lower-back conditions, such as spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, or spinal instability, may find the position aggravates their condition. —Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 5 May 2025

These shifts can increase your chances of certain injuries and conditions such as herniated discs, bone spurs, arthritis, and spinal stenosis, or the narrowing of the spaces within the spine that causes pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. —Jenny McCoy, SELF, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek stenōsis act of narrowing, from stenoun to narrow, from stenos narrow

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stenosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis

Medical Definition

stenosis

noun

ste·​no·​sis stə-ˈnō-səs 

plural stenoses -ˌsēz 

: a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice

esophageal stenosis

see aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, spinal stenosis, subaortic stenosis