osteoarthritis

IPA/ˌɒstiəʊɑːˈθraɪtɪs/
KK[ˌɑstiˌoɑrθrˈaɪtəs]IPA/ˌɑːstiəʊɑːrˈθraɪtɪs/

osteoarthritis — noun

1. a long-term joint disease in which the smooth tissue inside a joint wears away,

1.nounC2
Definition

a long-term joint disease in which the smooth tissue inside a joint wears away, making movement painful and stiff

Example

After years of farm work, Hassan developed osteoarthritis in both knees.

pattern: develop osteoarthritis in + joint

The doctor said Christopher's thumb pain came from early osteoarthritis.

collocation: early osteoarthritis

Common collocations
  • develop osteoarthritis
  • have osteoarthritis
  • knee osteoarthritis
  • hip osteoarthritis
  • early osteoarthritis
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

have osteoarthritis

develop osteoarthritis in + joint

osteoarthritis of + body part

Usage Note

Usually used in medical or health contexts, often with the affected joint named after it, such as 'in both knees' or 'of the hip'. In everyday conversation, many speakers say 'arthritis' when the exact diagnosis is not important.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Osteoarthritis names the wear-related form of joint disease. Arthritis is the broad umbrella word, so it can also mean other joint problems with different causes. Rheumatoid arthritis is a different illness in which the immune system attacks the joints, rather than a condition caused mainly by long-term wear. Degenerative joint disease is a formal label that often appears in medical notes, while osteoarthritis is the standard word patients usually hear from doctors. In everyday speech, people may simply say arthritis, but osteoarthritis is better when you want to show that the damage has built up slowly over time, especially in the knees, hips, hands, or spine.

osteoarthritis ↗arthritis ↗rheumatoid arthritisdegenerative joint disease

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • develop osteoarthritis
  • have osteoarthritis

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekEnglish

The word was formed in medical English from osteo-, meaning 'bone', and arthritis, which comes from Greek words connected with joints and inflammation.