arteriosclerosis

noun

ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity compare atherosclerosis
arteriosclerotic adjective or noun

Examples of arteriosclerosis 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.
In this study, researchers looked for evidence of brain lesions known as hyaline arteriosclerosis. Cathy Nelson, Health, 7 May 2025 The Roman Holiday star also opened up about the tragedy in a 1987 interview with PEOPLE, citing overwork, arteriosclerosis and a breakup among his son’s troubles. Nicole Briese, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024 The list of ailments shown to have been relieved by therapeutic fasting is long: rheumatism, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, angina, asthma, hypertension, skin diseases, kidney and gallbladder infections, periodontitis, glaucoma and migraines. Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024 Fellow pro wrestler Kohei Suwama suggested to Tokyo Sports on Monday that Yoshie suffered from arteriosclerosis. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for arteriosclerosis

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French artériosclerose, from artério- arterio- + sclerose sclerosis

Note: The term was introduced by the German-born French physician Jean Frédéric Lobstein (1777-1835) in Traité d'anatomie pathologique, tome second (Paris, 1833), p. 550.

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arteriosclerosis was in 1860

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Cite this Entry

“Arteriosclerosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arteriosclerosis. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

arteriosclerosis

noun
ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
: a disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries
arteriosclerotic adjective or noun

Medical Definition

arteriosclerosis

noun
ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
plural arterioscleroses -ˌsēz How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity see atherosclerosis

More from Merriam-Webster on arteriosclerosis

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