spondylolisthesis

[ spon-dl-oh-lis-thee-sis ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. the forward displacement of a vertebra.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spondylolisthesis¹

< New Latin (1853) < Greek spóndyl ( os ) vertebra + olísthēsis dislocation, equivalent to olisthē-, variant stem of olisthánein to slip, sprain (derivative of ólisthos slipperiness) + -sis -sis