osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
plural osteoporoses ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-ˌsēz How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and fragility
osteoporotic adjective

Examples of osteoporosis 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.
Milk is packed with calcium, vitamin D, and protein, which strengthen bones, support muscles, and reduce osteoporosis risk. Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 2026 Women make up the majority of cases, and while the risk increases with age, younger women can develop osteoporosis, too. Hadia Zainab, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026 Right Now Declining estrogen can cause women to lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause, and about half of all women over 50 will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis. Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026 Declining estrogen can cause women to lose up to 20% of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause, and about half of all women over 50 will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis. Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for osteoporosis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from oste- + porosis rarefaction, from porus pore + -osis

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of osteoporosis was in 1841

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Osteoporosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osteoporosis. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

osteoporosis

noun
os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
: a condition affecting especially older women that is characterized by weak bones that are easily broken

Medical Definition

osteoporosis

noun
os·​teo·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
plural osteoporoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and brittleness
osteoporotic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on osteoporosis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster