Definition of orthopedics
:a branch of medicine concerned with the correction or prevention of deformities, disorders, or injuries of the skeleton and associated structures (such as tendons and ligaments)
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Explore M-W
Did You Know?
Just as an orthodontist corrects crookedness in the teeth, an orthopedist corrects crookedness in the skeleton. Orthopedics is formed in part from the Greek word for "child", and many orthopedic patients are in fact children. But adults also often have need of orthopedic therapy, as when suffering from a joint disease like arthritis or when recovering from a broken arm or leg.
First Known Use of orthopedics
circa 1853
ORTHOPEDICS Defined for English Language Learners
Medical Dictionary
orthopedics
noun plural but singular or plural in construction
or·tho·pe·dics
variants:
or chiefly British
orthopaedics
play
\-ˈpēd-iks\
medical Definition of orthopedics
:a branch of medicine concerned with the correction or prevention of deformities, disorders, or injuries of the skeleton and associated structures (as tendons and ligaments)
Learn More about orthopedics
-
Spanish Central: Translation of orthopedics Nglish: Translation of orthopedics for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of orthopedics for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orthopedics
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up orthopedics? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
