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 Greens for better bone health Another side effect of falling oestrogen levels is a reduction in bone density and mass, both of which can lead to conditions like osteoporosis—experts believe that women lose as much as 10 percent of their bone mass in the first five years after menopause. Georgia Day, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023 Without adequate calcium intake, vegans may be at a higher risk of developing conditions like osteoporosis, which weakens the bones and increases the likelihood of fractures. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 As such, an unexpected finding of osteoporosis in a man should be repeated to be sure that the test result is accurate. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 24 July 2023 Without calcium, your risk of osteoporosis increases. Isadora Baum, Health, 28 Mar. 2023 Calcium plays a significant role in supporting bone health as women age, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2023 For You Resistance training can strengthen muscles and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 14 Aug. 2023 When too much calcium is removed from bones, the bones weaken and are vulnerable to breaking, a condition known as osteoporosis. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 10 Aug. 2023 Magnesium - Besides helping keep bones strong to stave off osteoporosis, magnesium helps with menopausal symptoms like sleep difficulty and depression. Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 27 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'osteoporosis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near osteoporosis

Cite this Entry

“Osteoporosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osteoporosis. Accessed 28 Sep. 2023.

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

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