nephritis

noun

ne·​phri·​tis ni-ˈfrī-təs 

plural nephritides ni-ˈfri-tə-ˌdēz 

: acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney caused by infection, degenerative process, or vascular disease

Examples of nephritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lupus nephritis is a complication of the autoimmune disease lupus. —Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

Kidney function can be affected in lupus, and about 50 percent of patients develop nephritis. —Richard Sima, Washington Post, 12 July 2024

Infections, some kinds of cancer, and some medications can also cause a condition called nephritis, or inflammation of the nephrons, that can quickly lead to kidney failure. —Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024

The autoimmune disease can cause lupus nephritis, a kidney disease that results in inflammation. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek, from nephros kidney; probably akin to Middle English nere kidney

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nephritis

noun

ne·​phri·​tis ni-ˈfrīt-əs 

plural nephritides -ˈfrit-ə-ˌdēz 

: inflammation of the kidneys

Medical Definition

nephritis

noun

ne·​phri·​tis ni-ˈfrīt-əs 

plural nephritides -ˈfrit-ə-ˌdēz 

: acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney affecting the structure (as of the glomerulus or parenchyma) and caused by infection, a degenerative process, or vascular disease compare nephrosclerosis, nephrosis