rheumatoid arthritis

noun

: a usually chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints

—abbreviation RA compare osteoarthritis

Examples of rheumatoid arthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ventyx specializes in one of the hottest spaces in drug development, developing pills to treat diseases like Crohn’s and rheumatoid arthritis. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 7 Jan. 2026

Scientists are now trying to tap these cells for new ways to treat cancer, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and organ or tissue transplant complications. —Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 23 Dec. 2025

According to a White House fact sheet, the drugs that will be covered include treatments for chronic conditions, including type two diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus and certain cancers. —Ibrahim Aksoy, CBS News, 19 Dec. 2025

The agreement includes prescription drugs for asthma, certain cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis B and C, HIV, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 2 diabetes, the White House said. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rheumatoid arthritis

• diverticulitis
• epididymitis
• osteoarthritis
• periodontitis
• polymyositis
• pyelonephritis
• tenosynovitis
• adenitis
• arteritis
• blepharitis
• cervicitis
• cholangitis

Medical Definition

rheumatoid arthritis

noun

: a usually chronic disease that is considered an autoimmune disease and is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints

—abbreviation RA

called also atrophic arthritis

compare osteoarthritis