osteoarthritis

American  

[os-tee-oh-ahr-thrahy-tis] / ˌɒs ti oʊ ɑrˈθraɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. the most common form of arthritis, usually occurring after middle age, marked by chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.

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osteoarthritis British  

/ ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθrɪtɪk, ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθraɪtɪs /

noun

1. Also called: degenerative joint disease.  chronic inflammation of the joints, esp those that bear weight, with pain and stiffness

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osteoarthritis Scientific  

/ ŏs′tē-ō-är-thrī′tĭs /

1. A form of arthritis, occurring mainly in older people, that is characterized by chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• osteoarthritic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of osteoarthritis

First recorded in 1875–80; osteo- + arthritis

Example Sentences

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, already affecting more than 595 million people globally.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and stiffness, typically affects older people, but can strike at any age.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2025

Dr. Upadhyay Bharadwaj and colleagues evaluated thigh muscle volume in 134 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative, a nationwide study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2023

ARPA-H’s new program, Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis, seeks to use a patient’s own cells to regenerate lost bone and cartilage.

From Science Magazine • May 24, 2023

Osteoarthritis develops when the cartilage that acts as a cushion between the bones in a joint breaks down or wears away, giving the condition its “wear and tear” disease nickname.

From Washington Post • Nov. 1, 2022