Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

osteoarthritis Scientific  
/ ŏs′tē-ō-är-thrītĭs /
  1. A form of arthritis, occurring mainly in older people, that is characterized by chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of osteoarthritis

First recorded in 1875–80; osteo- + arthritis

Vocabulary lists containing osteoarthritis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Lilly also revealed that its next-generation obesity drug retatrutide showed meaningful improvements in knee osteoarthritis pain and sleep apnea as well as substantial weight loss, in Phase 3 trials.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

The same drug also was associated with improvements in osteoarthritis pain, moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, and Type 2 diabetes.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

Eli Lilly’s Foundayo pill showed significant weight loss in menopausal women, and retatrutide improved osteoarthritis pain and sleep apnea.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

The study focused on people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the knee, which is the inner side of the joint.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

One form of this, commonly seen in old men, called osteoarthritis, is often confined to the hip joint, and often produces considerable deformity.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "osteoarthritis" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com