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

Having "tried and failed many times" to lose weight, she now has arthritis and other mobility issues.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Joanie Landon, 85, said it previously took eight minutes to travel by car from her home to a thermal pool for her arthritis therapy on the other end of the highway.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

For people with this type of arthritis, repeatedly placing excessive pressure on the already damaged area can accelerate deterioration.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

Its findings may not apply to people with advanced arthritis, other patterns of joint damage, or those whose knees respond differently.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026

She wouldn’t dare step out because of her arthritis, but it was clear that our peculiar behavior was disturbing to her.

From "Jacob Have I Loved" by Katherine Paterson

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