osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

plural osteoporoses ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-ˌsēz 

: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and fragility

osteoporotic

ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrä-tik 

adjective

Examples of osteoporosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Biden administration is also trying to advance research on women's midlife health, on concerns including menopause, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among women. —Eva Pound, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2024

High sodium diets may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, obesity, gastric cancer, osteoporosis, kidney disease and Meniere’s disease, per the WHO. —Caroline C. Boyle, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024

While the link doesn’t prove causation, having an excess of thyroid hormone can lead to a breakdown of bone tissue, resulting in osteoporosis. —Kristen Fischer, Health, 7 Dec. 2024

As for the crew, part of their legacy is that learning about their past bone health could help better understand diseases like osteoporosis in the future. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from oste- + porosis rarefaction, from porus pore + -osis

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

: a condition affecting especially older women that is characterized by weak bones that are easily broken

Medical Definition

osteoporosis

noun

os·​teo·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs 

plural osteoporoses -ˌsēz 

: a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and brittleness

osteoporotic

-ˈrät-ik 

adjective