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

See Examples For:

colitis

Tremfya is approved in the U.S. to treat certain types of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

Another time, when Kavanagh was suffering ulcerative colitis, he brought his laptop and worked from a hospital bed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2026

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 word of his death at sea provoked a colitis attack that kept Ernest bedridden for four days, until he roused himself and hobbled, ashen, into an East Bay church for Mills’s memorial service.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik