edema

American  

[ih-dee-muh] / ɪˈdi mə /

especially British, oedema

noun

Pathology.

plural

edemas, edemata

1. effusion of serous fluid into the interstices of cells in tissue spaces or into body cavities.

2. Plant Pathology.

   1. a small surface swelling of plant parts, caused by excessive moisture.

   2. any disease so characterized.

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edema British  

/ ɪˈdɛmətəs, ɪˈdiːmə /

noun

1. the usual US spelling of oedema

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edema Scientific  

/ ĭ-dē′mə /

1. An accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells, tissues, or body cavities. Edema can be mild and benign as in pregnancy or prolonged standing in the elderly, or a serious sign of heart, liver, or kidney failure, or of other diseases.

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Other Word Forms

• edematose adjective
• edematous adjective
• pseudoedema noun

Etymology

Origin of edema

First recorded in 1490–1500; from New Latin oedēma, from Greek oídēma “a swelling,” equivalent to oidē- (variant stem of oideîn “to swell”) + -ma noun suffix

Compare meaning

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

• anasarca vs. edema
• angioedema vs. edema

Example Sentences

Potential adverse events the companies knew about included depression, suicidal ideation, somnolence, edema, dizziness and confusion, documents from lawsuits show.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

The drugmaker said the Food and Drug Administration had approved Eylea HD for the treatment of patients with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion, a common cause of vision impairment in adults.

From Barron's • Nov. 20, 2025

She said the condition, called Reinke's edema, makes touring challenging because it causes the "ultimate vocal fry".

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2025

Acute exposure by inhalation can cause respiratory issues such as difficulty breathing, congestion, edema and lung hemorrhages, while oral ingestion can cause adverse effects in the blood and thyroid.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2025

The following morning Wlasich complained that he felt ill and then lost consciousness; a Norwegian doctor who happened to be present determined that the Austrian was suffering from both pulmonary and cerebral edema.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer