osteoarthritis

noun

os·​te·​o·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs 

: a common form of arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cartilage of one or more joints (as of the knees, hips, and hands) accompanied by thickening and overgrowth of adjacent bone and that is marked symptomatically chiefly by stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, and loss of range of motion

—abbreviation OA compare rheumatoid arthritis

osteoarthritic

ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthri-tik 

adjective

Examples of osteoarthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The largest review of collagen supplements so far also detailed benefits beyond healthier-looking skin to relief from osteoarthritis pain and stiffness. —Ellie Davis, Vogue, 11 June 2026

The drug also helped improve related conditions like knee osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. —Angelica Peebles, CNBC, 8 June 2026

For years, Evangelista, 82, had been dragged down by osteoarthritis in his neck. —Carrie Teegardin, AJC.com, 8 June 2026

For people with both obesity and knee osteoarthritis, taking a GLP-1 may lower the risk of needing a knee replacement down the road, a new study found. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 3 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for osteoarthritis

• alveolitis
• bronchiolitis
• caenorhabditis
• cholecystitis
• encephalitis
• endometritis
• endophthalmitis
• folliculitis
• periostitis
• peritonitis
• polyneuritis
• thrombophlebitis

Kids Definition

osteoarthritis

noun

os·​teo·​ar·​thri·​tis

ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs

: arthritis marked by the breakdown of cartilage and bone of joints

Medical Definition

osteoarthritis

noun

os·​teo·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs 

plural osteoarthritides -ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz 

: a common form of arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cartilage of one or more joints (as of the knees, hips, and hands) accompanied by thickening and overgrowth of adjacent bone and that is marked symptomatically chiefly by stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, and loss of range of motion

—abbreviation OA

called also degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis

compare rheumatoid arthritis

osteoarthritic

-ˈthrit-ik 

adjective

Treatment for hand and finger osteoarthritis has the same goals as treatment for any osteoarthritic joint: pain reduction, mobility maintenance and minimization of disability.

—Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News