cirrhosis

noun

cir·​rho·​sis sə-ˈrō-səs 

plural cirrhoses sə-ˈrō-ˌsēz 

: widespread disruption of normal liver structure by fibrosis and the formation of regenerative nodules that is caused by any of various chronic progressive conditions affecting the liver (such as long-term alcohol abuse or hepatitis)

cirrhotic

sə-ˈrä-tik 

adjective or noun

Examples of cirrhosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While Nitzer Ebb toured regularly into the present day, McCarthy faced health issues late in life, dropping off a 2024 European tour citing liver cirrhosis. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025

My First Look at Liver Disease: My Dad's Diagnosis My father was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis after a surgeon saw that his liver was scarred during a gallbladder removal surgery. —Aroosha Sarrafi, Health, 11 May 2025

Over time, the buildup of fat in the liver can lead to inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis (types of scarring), and liver cancer. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 1 May 2025

In the liver, the infection closely resembles liver cancer and cirrhosis. —ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek kirrhos orange-colored; akin to Old English hār gray — more at hoar

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cirrhosis

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

Kids Definition

cirrhosis

noun

cir·​rho·​sis sə-ˈrō-səs 

: an increase in fiber-containing tissue and hardening of the liver

Medical Definition

cirrhosis

noun

cir·​rho·​sis sə-ˈrō-səs 

plural cirrhoses -ˌsēz 

: widespread disruption of normal liver structure by fibrosis and the formation of regenerative nodules that is caused by any of various chronic progressive conditions affecting the liver (as long-term alcohol abuse or hepatitis) see biliary cirrhosis