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rheumatoid arthritis

noun

Definition of rheumatoid arthritis

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

See rheumatoid arthritis defined for English-language learners

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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

  • 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

  1. :  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

  1. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rheumatoid arthritis

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