osteoarthritis

noun

os·​te·​o·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
: a common form of arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cartilage of one or more joints (as of the knees, hips, and hands) accompanied by thickening and overgrowth of adjacent bone and that is marked symptomatically chiefly by stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, and loss of range of motion
—abbreviation OA compare rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritic
ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthri-tik How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
adjective

Examples of osteoarthritis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chrome details were chosen to represent the patient’s titanium right hip as a result of his hip osteoarthritis diagnosis. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2026 The leaner dogs also had delayed onset of chronic disease and less severe osteoarthritis. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 Researchers are continuing to investigate whether GLP-1s could be effective at combating opioid addiction, osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s, and even breast cancer. — Dr. Bowman Heiden, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 Knees may feel no different as muscles shrink but become more susceptible to injury or osteoarthritis. — Aaron Steckelberg, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for osteoarthritis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of osteoarthritis was in 1878

Rhymes for osteoarthritis

See All Rhymes for osteoarthritis

Browse Nearby Words

osteoarthritic
osteoarthritis
osteoblast
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Osteoarthritis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osteoarthritis. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

osteoarthritis

noun
os·​teo·​ar·​thri·​tis
ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs
: arthritis marked by the breakdown of cartilage and bone of joints

Medical Definition

osteoarthritis

noun
os·​teo·​ar·​thri·​tis ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
plural osteoarthritides -ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
: a common form of arthritis typically with onset during middle or old age that is characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cartilage of one or more joints (as of the knees, hips, and hands) accompanied by thickening and overgrowth of adjacent bone and that is marked symptomatically chiefly by stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, and loss of range of motion
—abbreviation OA

called also degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, hypertrophic arthritis

compare rheumatoid arthritis
osteoarthritic
-ˈthrit-ik How to pronounce osteoarthritis (audio)
adjective
Treatment for hand and finger osteoarthritis has the same goals as treatment for any osteoarthritic joint: pain reduction, mobility maintenance and minimization of disability. —Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News

More from Merriam-Webster on osteoarthritis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about osteoarthritis

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