sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs 

1

: pathological hardening of tissue especially from overgrowth of fibrous tissue or increase in interstitial tissue

also : a disease characterized by sclerosis

2

: an inability or reluctance to adapt or compromise

political sclerosis

Examples of sclerosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While American pharmaceutical development exhibits signs of institutional sclerosis, China’s system demonstrates the power of aligned incentives, streamlined processes, and strategic coordination between regulatory bodies, research institutions, and industry players. —Greg Licholai Md, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025

The company expects topline data from the systemic sclerosis trial in the fourth quarter of 2026. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 25 Mar. 2025

Lesser projects suffer from the same political and procedural sclerosis. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025

This sclerosis can be chalked up in part to regulatory capture, in which industries, through lobbying and political contributions, are able to exert enormous influence over the regulatory agencies supposed to watch over them. —Moisés Naím, Foreign Affairs, 22 Feb. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sclirosis tumor, from Medieval Latin, from Greek sklērōsis hardening, from sklēroun to harden, from sklēros

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sclerosis

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• multiple sclerosis

Rhymes for sclerosis

• cirrhosis
• fibrosis
• gliosis
• hypnosis
• ichthyosis
• ketosis
• kurtosis
• lordosis
• meiosis
• miosis
• mitosis
• mycosis

Kids Definition

sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs 

: an abnormal hardening of a tissue or body part (as arteries or muscles) that occurs in several serious diseases compare multiple sclerosis

Medical Definition

sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs 

plural scleroses -ˌsēz 

1

: a pathological condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue and other changes (as in arteriosclerosis) or by increase in interstitial tissue and other changes (as in multiple sclerosis)

called also hardening

2

: any of various diseases characterized by sclerosis

—usually used in combination see arteriosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myelosclerosis