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Synonyms

inflammation

American  
[in-fluh-mey-shuhn] / ˌɪn fləˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

  1. Pathology. redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat, and disturbed function of an area of the body, especially as a reaction of tissues to injurious agents.

  2. the act or fact of inflaming.

  3. the state of being inflamed.

inflammation British  
/ ˌɪnfləˈmeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the reaction of living tissue to injury or infection, characterized by heat, redness, swelling, and pain

  2. the act of inflaming or the state of being inflamed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
inflammation Scientific  
/ ĭn′flə-mā′shən /

  1. The reaction of a part of the body to injury or infection, characterized by swelling, heat, redness, and pain. The process includes increased blood flow with an influx of white blood cells and other chemical substances that facilitate healing.

inflammation Cultural  

  1. The response of tissue to injury or infection. Pain, heat, redness, and swelling are the four basic symptoms of inflammation.

Other Word Forms

  • subinflammation noun

Etymology

Origin of inflammation

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin inflammātiōn-, stem of inflammātiō, from inflammāt(us) “kindled” (past participle of inflammāre “to kindle”; inflame ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A CT scan showed inflammation of the brain, and he was seriously ill.

From BBC

The researchers found that this bacterium can enter the bloodstream and settle in breast tissue, where it triggers inflammation and early cellular changes linked to cancer.

From Science Daily

"By monitoring waist size and inflammation, clinicians may be able to identify people with higher risk earlier and focus on prevention strategies that could reduce the chance of heart failure before symptoms begin."

From Science Daily

These factors can lead to weight gain, inflammation and the buildup of visceral fat, all of which increase the risk of heart disease.

From Science Daily

Meningitis is a potentially deadly infection causing the inflammation of the brain or spinal cord linings, which can lead to sepsis.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.