appendicitis

American  

[uh-pen-duh-sahy-tis] / əˌpɛn dəˈsaɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the vermiform appendix.

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appendicitis British  

/ əˌpɛndɪˈsaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the vermiform appendix

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appendicitis Scientific  

/ ə-pĕn′dĭ-sī′tĭs /

1. Inflammation of the appendix, usually caused by a blockage or infection.

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appendicitis Cultural  

1. Inflammation of the appendix.

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Other Word Forms

• pseudoappendicitis noun

Etymology

Origin of appendicitis

1885–90, < New Latin, equivalent to Latin appendic- (stem of appendix ) appendix + New Latin -ītis -itis

Explanation

Appendicitis is a painful medical condition caused by a swollen appendix. To keep the appendix from bursting, doctors often perform surgery to remove the appendix of patients who have appendicitis. People suffering from appendicitis often end up in the emergency room, because it causes so much pain. The pain of appendicitis usually starts near the belly button and spreads throughout the lower right part of the abdomen as the appendix becomes more swollen and inflamed. Appendicitis was first identified and named in the 1880s, from the Latin root appendix, "something attached," which describes the way your appendix is attached to your intestine.

Example Sentences

Physicians treating patients after car crashes or appendicitis have spotted clusters of pearls in the stomach and intestines.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

Argentina's former president Cristina Kirchner underwent surgery for appendicitis on Saturday, according to the Buenos Aires hospital where she was admitted.

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

It took two trips to different hospitals to diagnose him with appendicitis, peritonitis and a kidney infection, and he had to be operated on straight away.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2025

Three hours later, a doctor told her she had appendicitis and would require emergency surgery.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2025

In 1920, when I was still only three, my mother’s eldest child, my own sister Astri, died from appendicitis.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl