arthritis

noun

ar·​thri·​tis är-ˈthrī-təs 

plural arthritides är-ˈthri-tə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes

also : a specific arthritic condition

Examples of arthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bent over by age and arthritis, the Phillips, Wisconsin, resident continued to build life-size and larger-than-life concrete sculptures—over 200 in all—from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, blending local culture and lore with the wider world and the great beyond. —Paul Nicolaus, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025

With these conditions, which are considered forms of arthritis, your immune system attacks your spine, causing chronic inflammation in the sacroiliac joints that connect your lower back and pelvis. —Katie Camero, SELF, 20 June 2025

Ivermectin now allegedly cures all cancers, foot pain, arthritis, lupus, acne, and even boosts your gut microbiome—in addition to curing COVID-19. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 10 June 2025

In animals and humans, VNS has been shown to reduce harmful inflammation in both chronic diseases such as arthritis and acute conditions such as sepsis. —Sangeeta S. Chavan, IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin arthrītis "pain in the joints," borrowed from Greek arthrītid-, arthrîtis "of the joints" (arthrîtis nósos "disease of the joints"), (as a noun) "gout," from árthron "joint, articulation" + -ītis -itis — more at arthro-

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing arthritis

• anti-arthritis
• reactive arthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis

Rhymes for arthritis

• bronchitis
• bursitis
• detritus
• gastritis
• glossitis
• mastitis
• metritis
• nephritis
• neuritis
• orchitis
• osteitis
• otitis

Kids Definition

arthritis

noun

ar·​thri·​tis är-ˈthrīt-əs 

: inflammation of the joints

arthritic

-ˈthrit-ik

adjective or noun

Medical Definition

arthritis

noun

ar·​thri·​tis är-ˈthrīt-əs 

plural arthritides -ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes

also : a specific arthritic condition (as gouty arthritis or psoriatic arthritis)