colitis

American  

[kuh-lahy-tis, koh-] / kəˈlaɪ tɪs, koʊ- /

noun

Pathology.

1. inflammation of the colon.

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colitis British  

/ kɒˈlɪtɪk, kə-, kɒˈlaɪtɪs, ˌkɒləˈnaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of the colon

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colitis Scientific  

/ kə-lī′tĭs /

1. Inflammation of the colon.

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colitis Cultural  

1. An inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the colon. Colitis is characterized by pain in the abdomen, with alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhea.

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Other Word Forms

• colitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of colitis

col- ² + -itis

Example Sentences

Lucy Smith-Butler, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2017.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Abivax’s primary drug, obefazimod for ulcerative colitis, is in late-stage clinical trials and not yet approved for sale.

From Barron's • Jan. 12, 2026

The researchers then gave the microspheres orally to mice with varying levels of colitis, ranging from no disease activity to severe inflammation.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2025

Protagonist’s stock is up over 70% so far this year through Thursday, fueled in part by the promising trial results of its treatments for plaque psoriasis—an autoimmune disease—and the bowel disease ulcerative colitis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

His most troubling conditions were a strangely recurrent viral pneumonia, chronic sinusitis, and the ulcerative colitis that had laid him low the weekend before his scheduled testimony against Oppenheimer.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik