inflammation

[ in-fluh-mey-shuhn ]

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

/ 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

inflammation

/ 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

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

Other Words From

• subin·flam·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inflammation¹

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

The word inflammation was an essential one to early accounts of the virus coming out China a year ago.

From Washington Post

In a 2019 study that inspired the randomized trial, mice that lacked sigma-1 receptor died from systemic inflammation known as sepsis, whereas fluvoxamine treatment protected animals from deterioration and death.

From Science News

Obesity in some situations appears to be associated with chronic inflammation, which we think can be a driver of cancer.

From Freakonomics

When stress is reduced, inflammation is reduced, and the immune system is better equipped to fight off infection and illness.

From Popular-Science

In experiments on pairs of mice, one mouse received an injection that caused arthritis-like inflammation in one hind paw while the other mouse was unharmed.

From Science News

You get vaccinated in the arm, you shouldn't have inflammation in the joint.

From The Daily Beast

The truth is that any exercise releases cortisol and results in a certain level of inflammation—and this is a good thing!

From The Daily Beast

Their goals are not weight reduction or reducing inflammation, but rather, to race as fast as possible.

From The Daily Beast

Animal studies showed a correlation between inflammation and cancer growth.

From The Daily Beast

Over-training is the result of systemic inflammation and under-recovery—not aerobic exercise.

From The Daily Beast

He was threatened with erysipelas, and there was a rather critical inflammation of the left eye.

From Project Gutenberg

Larger amounts, not well mixed with fecal matter, indicate inflammation of the large intestine.

From Project Gutenberg

Vincent's angina is a chronic pseudomembranous and ulcerative inflammation of pharynx and tonsils.

From Project Gutenberg

The inflammation then hastily disappeared without producing the most distant mark of affection of the system.

From Project Gutenberg

On the 4th day, the inflammation was evidently subsiding, and on the 6th it was scarcely perceptible.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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