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
Recent Examples on the Web
Athletes with osteoarthritis may complain of pain with activity, night pain, swelling and limited knee motion.
—
Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Supports Anti-Inflammatory and Wound-Healing Compounds in strawberries that hold antioxidant properties combined with the fruit's vitamin C can help reduce pain and inflammation from conditions like osteoarthritis and promote skin healing.23
3.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025
An even more prevalent source of knee troubles than one-time injuries is a degenerative joint disease known as knee osteoarthritis.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Shortly after she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
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Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 10 July 2025
Supports Anti-Inflammatory and Wound-Healing Compounds in strawberries that hold antioxidant properties combined with the fruit's vitamin C can help reduce pain and inflammation from conditions like osteoarthritis and promote skin healing.23
3.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025
An even more prevalent source of knee troubles than one-time injuries is a degenerative joint disease known as knee osteoarthritis.
—Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2025
Shortly after she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 2 July 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 21 Jul. 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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