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Showing results for osteoarthritis. Search instead for vertebral arthritis.

osteoarthritis

American  
[os-tee-oh-ahr-thrahy-tis] / ˌɒs ti oʊ ɑrˈθraɪ tɪs /

noun

Pathology.
  1. the most common form of arthritis, usually occurring after middle age, marked by chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling.


osteoarthritis British  
/ ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθrɪtɪk, ˌɒstɪəʊɑːˈθraɪtɪs /

noun

  1. Also called: degenerative joint disease.  chronic inflammation of the joints, esp those that bear weight, with pain and stiffness

"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

osteoarthritis Scientific  
/ ŏs′tē-ō-är-thrītĭs /
  1. A form of arthritis, occurring mainly in older people, that is characterized by chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of osteoarthritis

First recorded in 1875–80; osteo- + arthritis

Vocabulary lists containing osteoarthritis

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.

See Examples For:

Researchers from the University of Sydney and University of Melbourne found that exercise leads to small average improvements in pain and physical function among people with hip osteoarthritis.

From Science Daily Jul. 28, 2026

The researchers noted that the thresholds used to define a meaningful improvement were developed mainly from studies involving knee osteoarthritis or mixed groups of osteoarthritis patients.

From Science Daily Jul. 28, 2026

Lilly said it now has data supporting global submissions for retatrutide to treat obesity, knee osteoarthritis pain, and sleep apnea.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 23, 2026

The researchers believe the technique could become part of future treatments designed to slow the progression of osteoarthritis and improve recovery after joint trauma.

From Science Daily Jul. 12, 2026

One form of this, commonly seen in old men, called osteoarthritis, is often confined to the hip joint, and often produces considerable deformity.

From Psychotherapy by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)

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