mastitis

American  

[ma-stahy-tis] / mæˈstaɪ tɪs /

noun

1. Pathology. inflammation of the breast.

2. Veterinary Pathology. inflammation of the udder, especially of cows; garget.

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mastitis British  

/ mæˈstaɪtɪs /

noun

1. inflammation of a breast or an udder

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Other Word Forms

• mastitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of mastitis

First recorded in 1835–45; mast- + -itis

Example Sentences

In detention, Flores said, she began to suffer a painful swelling, which she believed could have been mastitis brought on by her inability to nurse her baby.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Engorgement - when breasts can become overly full with milk - can in some cases lead to mastitis, an infection caused by a blocked milk duct resulting in soreness and pain when breastfeeding.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2024

She’s also working with dairy veterinarians to better understand mastitis, a common but painful inflammation of breast tissue, to come up with improved treatments and design a better breast pump for women.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2022

Tami Burdick, who was diagnosed in 2017 with granulomatous mastitis, a rare, chronic, inflammatory breast disease, found help from an online support group for women with the same condition.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2022

The incidence of diseases of the reproductive system and of mastitis among cows is rapidly increasing, and mortality among cattle is high.

From Area Handbook for Bulgaria by Baluyut, Violeta D.