sclerotic

1 of 2

adjective

scle·​rot·​ic sklə-ˈrä-tik 

1

a

medical : of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis (see sclerosis sense 1)

sclerotic arteries

sclerotic bone lesions

b

: grown rigid or unresponsive especially with age : unable or reluctant to adapt or compromise

a sclerotic system/bureaucracy

the country's sclerotic economy

The upheaval in Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and elsewhere is driven by popular revulsion with sclerotic, corrupt leadership.

—Rachel Bronson

2

anatomy : being or relating to the sclera

the sclerotic coat of the eye

sclerotic

2 of 2

noun

: sclera

Examples of sclerotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

It was delivered with sneers, an ugly, small-minded few minutes in support of the sclerotic, disdainful of dynamic change. — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

The lender’s models suggest the economic impact of AI over the next decade will be negligible in sub-Saharan Africa if power provision remains sclerotic. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 22 July 2026

On the other hand, biodiversity is far too important an issue to be steered at once by the chaotic whims of Silicon Valley, the legal battles waged by environmental nonprofits, and the old, sclerotic levers of government bureaucracy. — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026

The place is burdened by its size, with a culture that current and former employees routinely describe as bureaucratic, sometimes bordering on sclerotic, and highly risk-adverse. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin sclerotica, from Greek *sklērōtos, verbal of Greek sklēroun to harden

First Known Use

Adjective

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1696, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sclerotic

• sclerotic coat

Kids Definition

sclerotic

1 of 2 adjective

scle·​rot·​ic sklə-ˈrät-ik 

1

: being or relating to the sclera

2

: of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis

sclerotic

2 of 2 noun

: sclera

Medical Definition

sclerotic

1 of 2 adjective

scle·​rot·​ic sklə-ˈrät-ik 

1

: being or relating to the sclera

the sclerotic layer of the eye

2

: of, relating to, or affected with sclerosis

a sclerotic blood vessel

sclerotic

2 of 2 noun

: sclera