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

She suffered from pre-eclampsia and had to have labor induced, then experienced a difficult delivery and developed mastitis afterward.

From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2024

Emma feels like breastfeeding is not an option for her, after she contracted mastitis while breastfeeding her first child.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2023

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

For the baby's mouth contains bacteria which while harmless in themselves may if they get into the cracks of the nipple set up an inflammation of the breast or "mastitis" and cause an abscess.

From Woman Her Sex and Love Life by Robinson, William J.