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 injections reversed bone loss in a mouse model that mimics postmenopausal osteoporosis. —New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2025

Bone loss is more common in women, who are more likely to develop osteopenia (low bone mass), osteoporosis (brittle, porous bones), or osteomalacia (softening of the bones). —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 July 2025

It is sometimes considered a precursor to more severe osteoporosis, but not everyone with osteopenia will develop osteoporosis. —Marissa Sansone, Verywell Health, 30 July 2025

Bone density plummets in the five to seven years after menopause, and half of women older than 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 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