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

His health issues continued in 2018 when he was diagnosed with systemic sclerosis, a chronic disease characterized by diffuse fibrosis and vascular abnormalities in the skin, joints and internal organs. —Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

But B cells are a thread across many autoimmune conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), scleroderma (also called systemic sclerosis), rheumatoid arthritis, and myasthenia gravis. —Byjennifer Couzin-Frankel, science.org, 14 Nov. 2024

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

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