sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs 

1

: pathological hardening of tissue especially from overgrowth of fibrous tissue or increase in interstitial tissue

also : a disease characterized by sclerosis

2

: an inability or reluctance to adapt or compromise

political sclerosis

Examples of sclerosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nightmare scenario would be a zone of important but depopulating economies, accounting for much of the world’s output, frozen into perpetual sclerosis or decline by pessimism, anxiety, and resistance to reform. —Nicholas Eberstadt, Foreign Affairs, 10 Oct. 2024

Frequently Asked Questions Multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms typically start in young adulthood, between 20 and 40 years old. —Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Rn-Bc, Health, 24 Sep. 2024

Autoimmune conditions: Certain autoimmune disorders—such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease, connective tissue disorders, systemic sclerosis, and scleroderma—can affect the structure and function of the esophagus and cause odynophagia. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 13 July 2024

This includes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic sclerosis, polymyalgia rheumatica, mixed connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, or vasculitis. —Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sclirosis tumor, from Medieval Latin, from Greek sklērōsis hardening, from sklēroun to harden, from sklēros

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sclerosis

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• multiple sclerosis

Kids Definition

sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs 

: an abnormal hardening of a tissue or body part (as arteries or muscles) that occurs in several serious diseases compare multiple sclerosis

Medical Definition

sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs 

plural scleroses -ˌsēz 

1

: a pathological condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue and other changes (as in arteriosclerosis) or by increase in interstitial tissue and other changes (as in multiple sclerosis)

called also hardening

2

: any of various diseases characterized by sclerosis

—usually used in combination see arteriosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myelosclerosis