sclerosis

noun

scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce sclerosis (audio)
1
: pathological hardening of tissue especially from overgrowth of fibrous tissue or increase in interstitial tissue
also : a disease characterized by sclerosis
2
: an inability or reluctance to adapt or compromise
political sclerosis

Examples of sclerosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The myositis and sclerosis patients, who had shorter-term follow-up (usually about three to six months but up to a year) saw their symptoms significantly lessen. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 21 Feb. 2024 Chang and his coauthors also analyzed samples of blood serum from humans with lupus, dermatomyositis and systemic sclerosis and compared them with samples from people without autoimmune disease. Katie Hunt, CNN, 9 Feb. 2024 But his profile lists several medical reports of children born with rare genetic diseases, including tuberous sclerosis and primary ciliary dyskenesia. Katie Camero, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2024 Specialty camps are also offered for kids with disabilities, immune disorders, cancer, heart disease, juvenile arthritis, tuberous sclerosis, diabetes, cerebral palsy and those grieving the death of a family member or friend. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 18 Jan. 2024 To see if their findings matched what was happening in people, researchers analyzed blood samples from healthy donors and from patients with dermatomyositis, lupus, and systemic sclerosis. Jonathan Wosen Reprints, STAT, 1 Feb. 2024 About one-third of people with type 1 diabetes have digital sclerosis. Barbie Cervoni, Ms, Rd, Cdces, Cdn, Health, 18 Oct. 2023 At the same time, the United States—that beacon of Western democracy—was suffering from economic and political sclerosis. Yasheng Huang, Foreign Affairs, 25 Sep. 2023 There was a weaker apparent association between elevated biological age and Alzheimer’s disease and other motor neuron diseases, which include progressive spinal muscular atrophy and primary lateral sclerosis. Erin Prater, Fortune Well, 6 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sclerosis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sclirosis tumor, from Medieval Latin, from Greek sklērōsis hardening, from sklēroun to harden, from sklēros

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sclerosis was in 1846

Dictionary Entries Near sclerosis

Cite this Entry

“Sclerosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sclerosis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sclerosis

noun
scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce sclerosis (audio)
: an abnormal hardening of a tissue or body part (as arteries or muscles) that occurs in several serious diseases compare multiple sclerosis

Medical Definition

sclerosis

noun
scle·​ro·​sis sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce sclerosis (audio)
plural scleroses -ˌsēz How to pronounce sclerosis (audio)
1
: a pathological condition in which a tissue has become hard and which is produced by overgrowth of fibrous tissue and other changes (as in arteriosclerosis) or by increase in interstitial tissue and other changes (as in multiple sclerosis)

called also hardening

2
: any of various diseases characterized by sclerosis
usually used in combination
see arteriosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myelosclerosis

More from Merriam-Webster on sclerosis

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