cirrhosis

American  

[si-roh-sis] / sɪˈroʊ sɪs /

noun

Pathology.

1. a disease of the liver characterized by increase of connective tissue and alteration in gross and microscopic makeup.

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cirrhosis British  

/ sɪˈrɒtɪk, sɪˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

1. Also called: cirrhosis of the liver.  any of various progressive diseases of the liver, characterized by death of liver cells, irreversible fibrosis, etc: caused by inadequate diet, excessive alcohol, chronic infection, etc

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cirrhosis Scientific  

/ sĭ-rō′sĭs /

1. A chronic disease of the liver characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with scar tissue and the loss of functional liver cells. It is most commonly caused by chronic alcohol abuse, but can also result from nutritional deprivation or infection, especially by the hepatitis virus.

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cirrhosis Cultural  

1. A chronic disease of the liver, characterized by replacement of normal liver cells with a form of connective tissue. Owing to the scarring caused by this disease, irreversible damage to the liver can result.

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Discover More

Cirrhosis is often associated with alcoholism.

Other Word Forms

• cirrhosed adjective
• cirrhotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cirrhosis

1830–40; < Greek kirrh ( ós ) orange-tawny + -osis

Example Sentences

"If we can intervene earlier -- before fibrosis progresses to cirrhosis or cancer -- the impact could be substantial."

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2026

Hep B increases risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer later in life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

By this time, she was suffering from a series of life-threatening conditions: including cirrhosis of the liver and kidney damage.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

According to the CDC External link, up to 90% of children infected with hepatitis B during infancy develop a lifelong infection, and 25% of them will die prematurely of cirrhosis or liver cancer.

From Barron's • Dec. 17, 2025

Both domestic and wild animals were affected by “arsenical enteritis, gastric ulcers, and cirrhosis of the liver.”

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson