cellulitis

noun

cel·​lu·​li·​tis ˌsel-yə-ˈlī-təs 

: diffuse and especially subcutaneous inflammation of connective tissue

Examples of cellulitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

West went to the hospital two days later and was misdiagnosed with cellulitis. — Escher Walcott, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025

She was even hospitalized earlier this year after developing cellulitis from one of the open sores on her body. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026

Bites can also be the site where another bacterial infection called cellulitis develops. — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 19 June 2026

Most of the people taken to the hospital from jail come in through the emergency room, most commonly to treat a wound, injury, illness or infection such as sepsis or cellulitis, department officials said. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from cellula

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cellulitis

• margaritas
• tonsillitis
• caritas
• mellitus
• fetus
• foetus
• meatus
• thetis
• treatise

Medical Definition

cellulitis

noun

cel·​lu·​li·​tis ˌsel-yə-ˈlīt-əs 

: diffuse and especially subcutaneous inflammation of connective tissue