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.

---

arthritis British  

/ ɑːˈθraɪtɪs, ɑːˈθrɪtɪk /

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

---

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

---

arthritis Cultural  

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

---

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

Etymology

Origin of arthritis

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

Compare meaning

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

• rheumatism vs. arthritis

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

It merged with a part of Pfizer that owned off-patent former blockbuster drugs for cholesterol, impotence, arthritis, and depression.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Now 41, the league’s new leader in regular-season and playoff wins was questionable to play in his second game in as many nights while managing left foot arthritis.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

This may help explain why we saw strong associations with inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis and arthritis.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

He said he needed his car to transport his young daughter and to visit his mother, who had arthritis.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Her blood had never thickened, Don Julio explained, and she had developed arthritis.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago