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
Research comparing a homeopathic gel containing Rhus tox to a gel of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), for the treatment of osteoarthritis in humans showed the treatments to be equally effective and well-tolerated.
—
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 July 2025
Providers who volunteer and are accepted will agree to seek prior authorization for 17 items and services, including skin substitutes, deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease, impotence treatment, and arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis.
—Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Researchers have analyzed clinical trial data and ranked 12 different non-drug physical therapy treatments for knee osteoarthritis, based on their effectiveness in reducing pain and stiffness, and improving physical function.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2025
Simple Treatments Are the Most Effective, Study Finds In the research, published this week in the scientific journal PLoS One, scientists looked at data from 139 trials that evaluated outcomes from a dozen different non-drug treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for osteoarthritis
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 July 2025
Providers who volunteer and are accepted will agree to seek prior authorization for 17 items and services, including skin substitutes, deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease, impotence treatment, and arthroscopy for knee osteoarthritis.
—Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
Researchers have analyzed clinical trial data and ranked 12 different non-drug physical therapy treatments for knee osteoarthritis, based on their effectiveness in reducing pain and stiffness, and improving physical function.
—New Atlas, 21 June 2025
Simple Treatments Are the Most Effective, Study Finds In the research, published this week in the scientific journal PLoS One, scientists looked at data from 139 trials that evaluated outcomes from a dozen different non-drug treatments for knee osteoarthritis.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 20 June 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 6 Aug. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share