ulcerative colitis

noun

: a nonspecific inflammatory disease of the colon of unknown cause characterized by diarrhea with discharge of mucus and blood, cramping abdominal pain, and inflammation and edema of the mucous membrane with patches of ulceration

Examples of ulcerative colitis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because ulcerative colitis is a relapsing–remitting disease, many people go through quiet periods and then experience flares when inflammation ramps up again. —Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 14 Apr. 2026

And Spyre Therapeutics released some competitive ulcerative colitis results. —Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 13 Apr. 2026

Early experiments—many of them headed by Müller’s team—suggest that CAR-T therapies can work against several different autoimmune diseases, including myositis, systemic sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and myasthenia gravis, with few side effects. —Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2026

Probiotic foods may ease symptoms of conditions like eczema, ulcerative colitis, and obesity. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ulcerative colitis

• enterocolitis

Medical Definition

ulcerative colitis

noun

: a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon that is of unknown cause and is characterized by diarrhea with discharge of mucus and blood, cramping abdominal pain, and inflammation and edema of the mucous membrane with patches of ulceration