tendinitis

noun

ten·​di·​ni·​tis ˌten-də-ˈnī-təs 

variants or tendonitis

: inflammation of a tendon typically associated with acute injury and usually accompanied by pain and swelling

Tendinitis in his right shoulder forced him to the sideline only a few plays into the game.

—Herm Weiskopf

Did you know?

Tendinitis is often seen in active, healthy people who do something that requires repeated motion, including golfers and tennis players (especially those with improper form), carpenters, and violinists. It's usually treated by keeping the joint from moving, by means of a splint, cast, or bandage. If not dealt with in time, tendinitis can turn into the more serious tendinosis, or tendon degeneration.

Examples of tendinitis in a Sentence

She was diagnosed with tendinitis of the elbow.

I have tendinitis in my knee.

Recent Examples on the Web

Before joining the rotation, the 20-year-old 7-footer had missed one game due to a stomach illness, one game due to tendinitis in his right foot, was held out of nine games due to coach’s decision and spent three games on G League assignment. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2025

The Hawks guard did not play that night, citing right Achilles tendinitis. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 26 Nov. 2024

Could this be the week the San Francisco 49ers finally get Christian McCaffrey back on the field? McCaffrey, who has been battling Achilles tendinitis in both ankles, has yet to make his 2024 season debut. —Scott Thompson, Fox News, 4 Nov. 2024

That’s in addition to the bilateral knee tendinitis that has popped up throughout the season. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin tendin-, tendōn-, taken as stems of Medieval Latin tendō tendon + -itis

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tendinitis

• fugacity
• intercity
• lubricity
• rhythmicity
• seismicity
• sphericity
• subcommittee
• atomicity
• catholicity
• ellipticity
• historicity
• mutuality

Medical Definition

tendinitis

noun

ten·​di·​ni·​tis

variants or tendonitis

ˌten-də-ˈnīt-əs 

: inflammation of a tendon typically associated with acute injury and usually accompanied by pain and swelling