sclerotic

1 of 2

adjective

scle·​rot·​ic sklə-ˈrä-tik 

1

a

medical : of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis (see sclerosis sense 1)

sclerotic arteries

sclerotic bone lesions

b

: grown rigid or unresponsive especially with age : unable or reluctant to adapt or compromise

a sclerotic system/bureaucracy

the country's sclerotic economy

The upheaval in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and elsewhere is driven by popular revulsion with sclerotic, corrupt leadership.

—Rachel Bronson

2

anatomy : being or relating to the sclera

the sclerotic coat of the eye

sclerotic

2 of 2

noun

: sclera

Examples of sclerotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In a pivotal scene, Hill and Pitt sit at a table with the sclerotic Old Guard of scouts and front-office zombies. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026

The second, now promoted by a zillion MAGA podcasts, is a postapocalyptic hellscape of sclerotic socialism, repressed speech, and rampaging Muslims. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026

It was delivered with sneers, an ugly, small-minded few minutes in support of the sclerotic, disdainful of dynamic change. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

The lender’s models suggest the economic impact of AI over the next decade will be negligible in sub-Saharan Africa if power provision remains sclerotic. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin sclerotica, from Greek *sklērōtos, verbal of Greek sklēroun to harden

First Known Use

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1696, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sclerotic

• sclerotic coat

Kids Definition

sclerotic

1 of 2 adjective

scle·​rot·​ic sklə-ˈrät-ik 

1

: being or relating to the sclera

2

: of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis

sclerotic

2 of 2 noun

: sclera

Medical Definition

sclerotic

1 of 2 adjective

scle·​rot·​ic sklə-ˈrät-ik 

1

: being or relating to the sclera

the sclerotic layer of the eye

2

: of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis

a sclerotic blood vessel

sclerotic

2 of 2 noun

: sclera