ankylosis

noun

an·​ky·​lo·​sis ˌaŋ-ki-ˈlō-səs 

plural ankyloses ˌaŋ-ki-ˈlō-ˌsēz 

1

: stiffness or fixation of a joint by disease or surgery

2

: union of separate bones or hard parts to form a single bone or part

ankylotic

ˌaŋ-ki-ˈlä-tik 

adjective

Examples of ankylosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some joints may stop functioning and actually fuse together, which is called ankylosis. — Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 5 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier ancylosis, anchylosis, borrowed from New Latin ancylosis, borrowed from Greek ankýlōsis "tongue-tie, stiffening of joints," from ankylō-, variant stem of ankyloûn "to crook, bend" (derivative of ankýlos "bent, crooked, curved") + -sis -sis — more at angle entry 3

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ankylosis

• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis
• dermatosis
• diagnosis
• ecchymosis
• exostosis
• fluorosis

Medical Definition

ankylosis

noun

an·​ky·​lo·​sis

variants also anchylosis

ˌaŋ-ki-ˈlō-səs 

plural ankyloses -ˌsēz 

: stiffness or fixation of a joint by disease or surgery

ankylotic adjective

also anchylotic

-ˈlät-ik