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tendinitis

American  
[ten-duh-nahy-tis] / ˌtɛn dəˈnaɪ tɪs /
Also tendonitis,

noun

Pathology.
  1. inflammation of a tendon.


tendinitis British  
/ ˌtɛndəˈnaɪtɪs /

noun

  1. inflammation of a tendon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tendinitis

1895–1900; < New Latin tendin- ( see tendinous) + -itis

Explanation

Tennis players who overexert themselves might experience pain and swelling in their elbows, a sign they could be dealing with tendinitis — inflammation of the connective fiber within their joints. Tendinitis is a condition where a tendon, the thick cord that connects muscle to bone, becomes inflamed due to overuse or injury. The word tendinitis comes from the Latin word tendo, meaning "stretch," and the suffix -itis, which indicates inflammation. This condition is common among athletes and people who perform repetitive motions, causing pain and swelling in the affected joint.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Before the tournament, Tuchel said Saka would require managing through the opening stages because of what is understood to be an Achilles tendinitis issue.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

In 2012, Nadal had to pull out of the London Olympics and the US Open because of tendinitis in his left knee.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

Lula was also given an injection in his right wrist to treat tendinitis in his thumb.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Backing off, cleaning up mechanics and strengthening the right muscles early can help me prevent a minor irritation from progressing to tendinitis, rotator-cuff pathology or a more-persistent overuse injury.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

As in: I wonder why my dad never had surgery on his patellar tendinitis.

From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander

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