osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

plural osteoporoses ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-ˌsēz 

: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and fragility

osteoporotic

ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrä-tik 

adjective

Examples of osteoporosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Regular movement also helps keep your tendons, ligaments, and joints flexible and slows bone loss from conditions like osteoporosis. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 12 May 2026

All but two of my vertebrae were within the range of what is considered osteopenia, the clinical term for low bone density, often considered a precursor to osteoporosis. —Alice Gregory, Vogue, 11 May 2026

However, in another 2025 study published in Nature, genetic analysis showed that higher coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis. —Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 7 May 2026

Estrogen helps protect against osteoporosis and can help with blood pressure, mood, memory and libido. —Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 6 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from oste- + porosis rarefaction, from porus pore + -osis

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for osteoporosis

• amyloidosis
• anaplasmosis
• anastomosis
• aponeurosis
• apotheosis
• aspergillosis
• blastomycosis
• coccidiosis
• cryptococcosis
• cysticercosis
• endocytosis
• exocytosis

Kids Definition

osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

: a condition affecting especially older women that is characterized by weak bones that are easily broken

Medical Definition

osteoporosis

noun

os·​teo·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

plural osteoporoses -ˌsēz 

: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and brittleness

osteoporotic

-ˈrät-ik 

adjective