rickets

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

rick·ets | \ ˈri-kəts

Definition of rickets

: a deficiency disease that affects the young during the period of skeletal growth, is characterized especially by soft and deformed bones, and is caused by failure to assimilate and use calcium and phosphorus normally due to inadequate sunlight or vitamin D

Examples of rickets in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But rickets affects infants and very young children—far younger than those enrolled in Vit-D-Kids. — Charles Piller, Science | AAAS, 12 Aug. 2021 Scientists also found that infections, trauma, scurvy or rickets had triggered periostitis—chronic swelling and pain—to form in Waal’s arm bones. — Isis Davis-marks, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Mar. 2021 The poverty was visceral in a neighborhood teeming with bow-legged children suffering from rickets, and shoeless beggars wearing clothes made from rags. — Diane Cole, WSJ, 28 Dec. 2020 Thomas Scanlon survived polio and rickets, the Great Depression, the death of his parents, a difficult stint in foster care and the Korean War, all before age 25. — Alex Putterman, courant.com, 22 Dec. 2020 The family consists of mother Daris Bartolon, her daughter, Aylin Bartolon Morales, and another daughter Maddeline Bartolon, 15, who was born with rickets, which damaged her bones and kidneys. — Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 12 Dec. 2020 Vitamin D, from sunshine or food, contributes to bone strength; in its absence bones remain soft in the condition called rickets. — John J. Ross, WSJ, 30 Oct. 2020 The athlete overcame several health struggles in his childhood before embarking on his career in sports, including asthma, rickets and a heart murmur, according to the MLB. — Ally Mauch, PEOPLE.com, 3 Oct. 2020 Gibson’s early years were filled with medical troubles — rickets, pneumonia, asthma, hay fever and a heart problem. — Rick Hummel, chicagotribune.com, 2 Oct. 2020

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