osteoarthritis
noun
os·te·o·ar·thri·tis
ˌä-stē-ō-är-ˈthrī-təs 
: 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
Examples of osteoarthritis in a Sentence
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Shoulder muscles In addition, swimming may be particularly appealing for people with osteoarthritis, a joint condition that causes pain and inflammation.
—
Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
View 2 Images Researchers have discovered a new type of tissue, a soft and flexible ‘fatty cartilage’ that could revolutionize the treatment of traumatic injuries, birth defects, and cartilage-damaging diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
—New Atlas, 30 Jan. 2025
Multiple remains showed signs of sinus and ear infections, while a bone disease known as osteoarthritis as well as various dental diseases were also noted.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Such growths point to oral and maxillofacial disease, sinus and ear infections, and osteoarthritis, among others, the researchers reported in the British Dental Journal Open.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
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Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 18 Mar. 2025
View 2 Images Researchers have discovered a new type of tissue, a soft and flexible ‘fatty cartilage’ that could revolutionize the treatment of traumatic injuries, birth defects, and cartilage-damaging diseases like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
—New Atlas, 30 Jan. 2025
Multiple remains showed signs of sinus and ear infections, while a bone disease known as osteoarthritis as well as various dental diseases were also noted.
—Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
Such growths point to oral and maxillofacial disease, sinus and ear infections, and osteoarthritis, among others, the researchers reported in the British Dental Journal Open.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for osteoarthritis
Cite this Entry
“Osteoarthritis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osteoarthritis. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
osteoarthritis
noun
os·teo·ar·thri·tis
ˌäs-tē-ō-är-ˈthrīt-əs
plural osteoarthritides
-ˈthrit-ə-ˌdēz
: 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
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
Paul G. Donohue, The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union-News
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