inflammation

American  

[in-fluh-may-shuhn] / ˌɪn fləˈmeɪ ʃən /

noun

• inflammations
  plural

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.

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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

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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.

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inflammation Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subinflammation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• inflammations
  plural

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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”; see inflame) + -iō -ion

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Explanation

An inflammation means "setting something on fire." Maybe it's a political movement that suddenly takes hold, romantic feelings, the heat making your shoes feel tight, or someone lighting a campfire. Inflammation comes from the root inflame, from the Latin word inflammare meaning "to set on fire with passion." That meaning sounds pretty good, but an inflammation on your face, like a terrible rash, probably isn't going to inflame anyone's passion, at least until the swelling goes down. It probably also causes pain and discomfort.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inflammation inflammations

Over time, they can accumulate and release substances that trigger inflammation and disrupt the normal activity of surrounding cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 14, 2026

Picking can drive inflammation deeper into the skin and cause acne to spread.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Researchers found that increasing Menin helped protect cultured hippocampal cells against inflammation and a form of programmed cell death triggered by exposure to the stress hormone corticosterone.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

Mice with reduced Menin activity developed greater inflammation in the hypothalamus, thinner skin, reduced bone mass, and worsening cognitive performance.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2026

“If you had any foreign bodies in your legs they would set up an inflammation and you’d have fever.”

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway

Like other autoimmune diseases, which include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and lupus, these autoimmune brain inflammations, or encephalitides, arise when antibodies turn against the body.

From Science Magazine ● May 15, 2024

These T cells would then no longer be able to tackle the vascular inflammations.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 24, 2024

In addition to the psychological scars of war, soldiers also come here to treat meningitis, contusions, amputations, lung and nerve inflammations, sleeping disorders, skin diseases, and cardiovascular illnesses, among others.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 5, 2023

Compounds similar to the snake’s active toxin are used to treat inflammations.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

We slept hour after hour, ate a little, tended our frostbites, inflammations, and bruises, mindspoke, slept again.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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Related Words

• infection
• irritation
• pain
• rash
• sore
• tenderness

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