otosclerosis

noun oto·scle·ro·sis \ ˌō-tō-sklə-ˈrō-səs \

Definition of otosclerosis

: growth of spongy bone in the inner ear that causes progressively increasing deafness

Recent Examples of otosclerosis from the Web

Since her teen years, Edinger had slowly been going deaf from otosclerosis, a disease of the inner ear.

— leila mcneill, Smithsonian, "The Woman Who Shaped the Study of Fossil Brains," 1 Mar. 2018
Fabray had otosclerosis, a disease of the bones of the middle and inner ear.

— mike barnes, Billboard, "Nanette Fabray, Charming Singer, Dancer and Comedienne, Dies at 97," 24 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'otosclerosis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of otosclerosis

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1901

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

otosclerosis

noun oto·scle·ro·sis \ ˌōt-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs \

medical Definition of otosclerosis

plural otoscleroses play \-ˌsēz\

: growth of spongy bone in the inner ear where it gradually obstructs the oval window or round window or both and causes progressively increasing deafness