arthritis

American  

[ahr-thrahy-tis] / ɑrˈθraɪ tɪs /

noun

1. acute or chronic inflammation of a joint, often accompanied by pain and structural changes and having diverse causes, as infection, crystal deposition, or injury.

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arthritis British  

/ ɑːˈθraɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of a joint or joints characterized by pain and stiffness of the affected parts, caused by gout, rheumatic fever, etc See also rheumatoid arthritis

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arthritis Scientific  

/ är-thrī′tĭs /

1. Acute or chronic inflammation of one or more joints, usually accompanied by pain and stiffness, resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, autoimmune disease, or other causes.

2. See also osteoarthritis rheumatoid arthritis

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arthritis Cultural  

1. The inflammation of tissues in the joints (such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), usually resulting in pain and stiffness.

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Usage

Rather than talking about an arthritic or arthritics , it is better to talk about a person with arthritis and people with arthritis

Other Word Forms

• arthritic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of arthritis

First recorded in 1535–45; from New Latin, from Greek: “gout,” from árthr(on) “joint” ( see arthro-) + -ītis -itis

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Compare meaning

How does arthritis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• rheumatism vs. arthritis

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Explanation

Arthritis is a painful condition in which your joints swell and stiffen. It is common in older people, although it can affect anyone, including athletes who've injured knees, ankles, and hips. There are said to be more than 100 types of arthritis. It can be a side-effect of aging; typically your cartilage — the tissue that acts as a padding around the joints — becomes stiffer and wears away. On the other hand, younger people can be affected through infections, injury, or obesity. Doctors do not yet know why some people get arthritis and others don't. Even great athletes like Michael Jordan had to deal with arthritis when they got older: it's common.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arthritis

Perhaps most intriguingly, the research suggests that treating arthritis may involve looking beyond the joints themselves.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

The results also do not suggest that fiber supplements should replace exercise or other established arthritis treatments.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

But she can't do anything to reduce her £200 council tax bill, or the amount she spends on medicines for her various health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

Toward the end of his life, when asked by his fellow painter Henri Matisse why he still painted when his hands were so crippled by arthritis, Renoir said, “the pain passes, but the beauty remains.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

I worried that her arthritis had gotten worse, even though she had been lying down all morning.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

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