osteoarthritis

noun

os·​te·​o·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs 

: 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

ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthri-tik 

adjective

Examples of osteoarthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Weight management: Excess body weight may increase risk for fractures at certain body sites and increase the risk of osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear arthritis, a different condition from osteoporosis). —Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 28 Apr. 2025

The company expects to provide results from a 68-week study in people with obesity and osteoarthritis of the knee in 2025, according to fourth-quarter earnings slides on its website. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 6 Feb. 2025

Young people are prone to developing posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) following an ACL injury, especially after surgical repair. —Paul McClure 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for osteoarthritis

• diverticulitis
• epididymitis
• periodontitis
• polymyositis
• pyelonephritis
• tenosynovitis
• adenitis
• arteritis
• blepharitis
• cervicitis
• cholangitis
• choroiditis

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 

plural osteoarthritides -ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz 

: 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

-ˈthrit-ik 

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