mastitis

American  

[ma-stahy-tis] / mæˈstaɪ tɪs /

noun

1. Pathology. inflammation of the breast.

2. Veterinary Pathology. inflammation of the udder, especially of cows; garget.

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mastitis British  

/ mæˈstaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of a breast or an udder

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Other Word Forms

• mastitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mastitis

First recorded in 1835–45; mast- + -itis

Example Sentences

In detention, Flores said, she began to suffer a painful swelling, which she believed could have been mastitis brought on by her inability to nurse her baby.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

A new mother stands in a drugstore, holding a screaming infant as she fights mastitis, desperate to feed her baby.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2022

She’s also working with dairy veterinarians to better understand mastitis, a common but painful inflammation of breast tissue, to come up with improved treatments and design a better breast pump for women.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2022

A referral to the breast clinic also diagnosed mastitis and the IT consultant was told a scan was not possible as she was breastfeeding.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2022

A similar enlargement is met with in the axilla in cases of chronic interstitial mastitis, and in the groin as a result of chronic irritation about the external genitals, such as balanitis.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis