arthritis

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noun ar·thri·tis \är-ˈthrī-təs\

Definition of arthritis

plural

arthritides

play \-ˈthri-tə-ˌdēz\

: inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes; also : a specific arthritic condition

See arthritis defined for English-language learners

See arthritis defined for kids

Recent Examples of arthritis from the Web

With millions of baby boomers experiencing the miseries of arthritis, the need is great and growing.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Baby Boomers turn to stem cells for help with painful joints," 17 July 2017
Those kinds of considerations are not necessarily relevant in the case of a rheumatoid arthritis drug.

— kelly servick, Science | AAAS, "Expert panel to FDA: time to hold opioids to a new standard," 13 July 2017
Since the couple met seven years ago, he's developed severe gout, arthritis, undergone several surgeries and had to have a toe amputated.

— jennifer earl, CBS News, "Man learns wife is kidney transplant match from a custom-made baseball card," 11 July 2017
Raven had been having health problems for the last few years, with arthritis slowing her down.

— tessa weinberg, The Courier-Journal, "$4000 pet funeral 'like therapy' for owners," 28 June 2017
Louisiana saw 269 cases of arthritis in dogs per every 10,000 dogs seen at a Banfield Hospital, according to the study.

— wilborn p. nobles iii, NOLA.com, "Louisiana's cats and dogs may be skinnier than its humans, report shows," 27 June 2017
That's 33 percent less than the nationwide rate of arthritis among dogs.

— wilborn p. nobles iii, NOLA.com, "Louisiana's cats and dogs may be skinnier than its humans, report shows," 27 June 2017
More than 20 common pet diseases, including diabetes and arthritis, are linked to obesity.

— karin brulliard, chicagotribune.com, "These states have the fattest pets - and they might surprise you," 27 June 2017
In fact, British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline has become the first pharmaceutical company to carry out a medical study using ResearchKit, tracking 300 rheumatoid-arthritis patients’ fatigue, mood and joint pain over three months with data from iPhones.

— charles wallace, WSJ, "Smartphones Open a New World for Medical Researchers," 25 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'arthritis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of arthritis

Latin, from Greek, from arthron

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1543

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

ARTHRITIS Defined for English Language Learners

arthritis

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noun

Definition of arthritis for English Language Learners

medical : a disease that causes the joints of the body to become swollen and painful

ARTHRITIS Defined for Kids

arthritis

play

noun ar·thri·tis \är-ˈthrī-təs\

Definition of arthritis for Students

: a condition in which the joints are painful and swollen

Medical Dictionary

arthritis

play

noun ar·thri·tis \är-ˈthrīt-əs\

Medical Definition of arthritis

plural

arthrithritides

\-ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz\play

: inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes; also : a specific arthritic condition (as gouty arthritis or psoriatic arthritis)