rheumatoid arthritis

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, frequently accompanied by marked deformities, and ordinarily associated with manifestations of a general, or systemic, affliction.

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rheumatoid arthritis British  

noun

1. a chronic disease of the musculoskeletal system, characterized by inflammation and swelling of joints (esp joints in the hands, wrists, knees, and feet), muscle weakness, and fatigue

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rheumatoid arthritis Scientific  

/ ro̅o̅′mə-toid′ /

1. A chronic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive arthritis of several small or medium-sized joints, especially in the hands. Symptoms can include morning stiffness, joint swelling and weakness, and deformity and disability.

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Etymology

Origin of rheumatoid arthritis

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rheumatoid arthritis

Bass said she has postponed injections for rheumatoid arthritis and an MRI scan because she didn’t have enough to pay the estimate in advance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

The discovery could help explain a long-standing puzzle in rheumatoid arthritis: why the disease repeatedly attacks certain joints while leaving others largely untouched.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 5, 2026

For decades, treating autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis has meant a lifetime of drugs that suppress the immune system and wear down the body.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now tested CAR T-cell therapy in six people with particularly severe rheumatoid arthritis.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

It is what physicians must now do for patients with intractable cancer, severe rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and advanced cirrhosis.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas