rheumatism

noun

rheu·​ma·​tism ˈrü-mə-ˌti-zəm  ˈru̇- 

1

: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue

muscular rheumatism

2

: rheumatoid arthritis

Examples of rheumatism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Several local spa facilities offer thermal cures for everything from skin conditions to rheumatism. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2026

It’s said that the Roman Emperor Caracalla may have soaked away his rheumatism here. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026

Austen’s most common complaint was rheumatism, or pain in her back and knee. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025

The plant can be helpful in the treatment of rheumatism, dysentery, stomach ulcers, and nausea, with the leaves having a positive influence on respiration and a capacity to cleanse the blood of toxic metabolites, notably uric acid. —Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin rheumatismus flux, rheum, from Greek rheumatismos, from rheumatizesthai to suffer from a flux, from rheumat-, rheuma flux

First Known Use

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rheumatism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism

Kids Definition

rheumatism

noun

rheu·​ma·​tism ˈrü-mə-ˌtiz-əm 

: any of various conditions marked by stiffness, pain, or swelling in muscles or joints

Medical Definition

rheumatism

noun

rheu·​ma·​tism ˈrü-mə-ˌtiz-əm  ˈru̇m-ə- 

1

: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue

muscular rheumatism

2

: rheumatoid arthritis