osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

plural osteoporoses ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-ˌsēz 

: 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

ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrä-tik 

adjective

Examples of osteoporosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Supplementation can help prevent osteoporosis. —Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 26 Nov. 2025

The shape of the gluteus maximus muscle—the largest muscle in the human body—changes with lifestyle and aging factors and conditions like osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes, which the team have dug deeper into. —Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

The presence of microplastics in human bones may worsen osteoporosis, and human bones modified by the Liangzhu people exhibit low nutritional health and were likely obtained nonviolently. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

Vitamin D is critical for immune defense, osteoporosis prevention, heart health, and more. —Sarah Garone, Health, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for osteoporosis

• actinomycosis
• atherosclerosis
• endometriosis
• erythematosus
• erythroblastosis
• granulomatosis
• hemochromatosis
• histiocytosis
• hyperkeratosis
• ketoacidosis
• mononucleosis
• osteonecrosis

Kids Definition

osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

: 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 

plural osteoporoses -ˌsēz 

: 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

-ˈrät-ik 

adjective