arthritis

noun

ar·​thri·​tis är-ˈthrī-təs 

plural arthritides är-ˈthri-tə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes

also : a specific arthritic condition

Examples of arthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lyme is more complex and varied and can cause symptoms ranging from fever and rash to facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat and even arthritis. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 May 2026

There are lever handles on every door, partly because a wrist with arthritis can’t twist a round knob, and partly because lever handles tend to look better anyway. —Amy Kunst, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026

Gout is an extremely painful inflammatory form of arthritis that causes uric acid crystals to form around joints. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 7 May 2026

Glazer — a New York University Stern School of Business graduate who grew up battling psoriatic arthritis and fibromyalgia — developed the brand over five years alongside chief operating officer Steve Levine, previously at Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road Beauty. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin arthrītis "pain in the joints," borrowed from Greek arthrītid-, arthrîtis "of the joints" (arthrîtis nósos "disease of the joints"), (as a noun) "gout," from árthron "joint, articulation" + -ītis -itis — more at arthro-

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing arthritis

• anti-arthritis
• reactive arthritis
• rheumatoid arthritis

Rhymes for arthritis

• bronchitis
• bursitis
• detritus
• gastritis
• mastitis
• metritis
• nephritis
• neuritis
• orchitis
• osteitis
• otitis
• phlebitis

Kids Definition

arthritis

noun

ar·​thri·​tis är-ˈthrīt-əs 

: inflammation of the joints

arthritic

-ˈthrit-ik

adjective or noun

Medical Definition

arthritis

noun

ar·​thri·​tis är-ˈthrīt-əs 

plural arthritides -ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of joints due to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes

also : a specific arthritic condition (as gouty arthritis or psoriatic arthritis)