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

For starters, say filmmakers and advocates, much can be done to tackle the city’s sclerotic bureaucracy, onerous regulations and a slow and costly permitting process that has pushed filmmakers to flee to friendlier and cheaper locales. —Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026

And the country has struggled to fix these problems because of a sclerotic government and a consolidated defense industry that resists change. —ABC News, 6 May 2026

This is true, now more than ever, but even a sclerotic Congress is susceptible to public passions. —Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026

Murphy was decried as the pick of a sclerotic, reform-resistant establishment. —Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 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