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

After three or four years without estrogen, a bone scan revealed that Ambrose had developed osteopenia — a precursor to osteoporosis. —Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025

Magnesium decreases the absorption of oral bisphosphonates taken for osteoporosis. —Amy Brownstein, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025

Magnesium may decrease the absorption of medications in this class of drug used to treat osteoporosis. —Kirstyn Hill, Pharmd, Mph, Health, 5 Mar. 2025

However, insurance companies tend only to cover the use of DEXA as a bone density test for people at risk of osteoporosis. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 25 Feb. 2025

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

• actinomycosis
• atherosclerosis
• endometriosis
• erythematosus
• erythroblastosis
• granulomatosis
• hemochromatosis
• histiocytosis
• hyperkeratosis
• ketoacidosis
• mononucleosis
• osteonecrosis

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