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 National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that more than 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. —Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024

In addition, Frostrup also spoke of her mother, who suffers from dementia, and her mother-in-law, who has osteoporosis—both conditions linked to estrogen decline. —Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 1 Nov. 2024

Research shows that conditions like thyroid disease, hypopituitarism, diabetes, and osteoporosis can cause fragile, slow-growing nails. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 18 Oct. 2024

For bone health: Hum Got Calcium Supplements Another side effect of menopause that might not be as well known is a potential decrease in bone density, which can lead to osteoporosis. —Chloe Castleberry, Flow Space, 18 Oct. 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