Definition of rheumatoid arthritis
:a usually chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints — compare osteoarthritis
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rheumatoid arthritis
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First Known Use of rheumatoid arthritis
1859
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Defined for English Language Learners
rheumatoid arthritis
noun
Definition of rheumatoid arthritis for English Language Learners
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medical : a serious disease that continues to become worse over a long period of time and that causes the joints to become very painful, stiff, and swollen
Medical Dictionary
rheumatoid arthritis
noun
medical Definition of rheumatoid arthritis
: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
Learn More about rheumatoid arthritis
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rheumatoid arthritis
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