osteoarthritis

noun

os·​te·​o·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
: a common form of arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cartilage of one or more joints (as of the knees, hips, and hands) accompanied by thickening and overgrowth of adjacent bone and that is marked symptomatically chiefly by stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, and loss of range of motion
abbreviation OA
compare rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritic adjective

Examples of osteoarthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shortly after she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 According to experts, over 44% of women going through menopause will experience osteoarthritis. Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 25 June 2025 Scientists have done just that for osteoarthritis, a condition that could affect a billion people globally by 2050. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025 Which vitamin E supplements are best? Vitamin E is a major antioxidant vitamin that neutralizes the damaging action of free radicals on healthy cells, an effect that may play a role in preventing and managing chronic conditions like osteoarthritis and diabetes. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for osteoarthritis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of osteoarthritis was in 1878

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Cite this Entry

“Osteoarthritis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osteoarthritis. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

osteoarthritis

noun
os·​teo·​ar·​thri·​tis
ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs
: arthritis marked by the breakdown of cartilage and bone of joints

Medical Definition

osteoarthritis

noun
os·​teo·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
plural osteoarthritides -ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
: a common form of arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cartilage of one or more joints (as of the knees, hips, and hands) accompanied by thickening and overgrowth of adjacent bone and that is marked symptomatically chiefly by stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, and loss of range of motion
abbreviation OA

called also degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis

compare rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritic adjective
Treatment for hand and finger osteoarthritis has the same goals as treatment for any osteoarthritic joint: pain reduction, mobility maintenance and minimization of disability. Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

More from Merriam-Webster on osteoarthritis

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