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

Joint or muscle problems: Inflammation can affect your joints or muscles due to injury, arthritis, or disease. —Michael Menna, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2024

Hundreds of such clinics have sprung up around the country, luring customers with claims that their treatments can address conditions including Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, macular degeneration, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s and even erectile dysfunction. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024

Evidence suggests that days, months, and years of chewing down on these tools led to dental wear and severe arthritis in the jaws, similar to how excessively using chewing gum can cause similar problems in today’s age, the researchers state. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024

This suggests that the severity and location of psoriasis symptoms could influence the likelihood of developing psoriatic arthritis. —Chloe Castleberry, Flow Space, 26 Sep. 2024

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

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)