osteoporosis

noun

os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
plural osteoporoses ˌä-stē-ō-pə-ˈrō-ˌsēz How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
: 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 adjective

Examples of osteoporosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As a result, density and strength diminish quickly, compressing years of potential osteoporosis into mere months. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2024 Worldwide, osteoporosis causes nearly 9 million fractures annually. Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024 This mineral helps promote bone density and strength to prevent injury and osteoporosis (a bone disease in which bones become weak and brittle). Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 2 Nov. 2024 Bluming explained how the results were misinterpreted, not only giving estrogen a bad name but also leading to an unnecessary aversion to a treatment that could, in fact, protect against heart disease, osteoporosis and cognitive decline. Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for osteoporosis 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from oste- + porosis rarefaction, from porus pore + -osis

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of osteoporosis was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near osteoporosis

Cite this Entry

“Osteoporosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osteoporosis. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

osteoporosis

noun
os·​te·​o·​po·​ro·​sis ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
plural osteoporoses -ˌsēz How to pronounce osteoporosis (audio)
: 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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on osteoporosis

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