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

Not getting enough calcium can lead to several conditions that weaken bones and increase your chances of falls and broken bones, including osteoporosis, rickets and osteomalacia. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025

This can also lead to weakened bones, osteoporosis, and muscle weakness. —Erica Sweeney, SELF, 21 Mar. 2025

The conditions that typically require long-term care include Alzheimer’s or dementia, advanced osteoporosis, fractures resulting from severe falls, or simple frailty of old age. —Steve Vernon, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

Collagen supplementation may help improve conditions like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. —Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for osteoporosis

• actinomycosis
• atherosclerosis
• endometriosis
• erythematosus
• erythroblastosis
• granulomatosis
• hemochromatosis
• histiocytosis
• hyperkeratosis
• ketoacidosis
• mononucleosis
• osteonecrosis

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