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rheumatoid arthritis
noun
: a usually chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints
—abbreviation RA
compare osteoarthritis
Examples of rheumatoid arthritis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Underlying conditions such as gout, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis can also increase the risk of hip bursitis.11
3.
—Lindsay Curtis, Health, 31 Oct. 2024
Specialty pharmacies are designed to deliver medications with unique handling, storage and distribution requirements, often for patients with complex conditions such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2024
This money, the Biden administration explained, would be used to close research gaps on conditions tied to women’s midlife health—like rheumatoid arthritis, heart attacks and osteoporosis—especially those that become more common after menopause.
—Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 2 Oct. 2024
Some, like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, are autoimmune conditions in which the immune system mistakes healthy tissues as threats and attacks them.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 27 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1859, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of rheumatoid arthritis was
in 1859
Dictionary Entries Near rheumatoid arthritis
Cite this Entry
“Rheumatoid arthritis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rheumatoid%20arthritis. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
rheumatoid arthritis
noun
: a usually chronic disease that is considered an autoimmune disease and is characterized especially by pain, stiffness, inflammation, swelling, and sometimes destruction of joints
—abbreviation RA
called also atrophic arthritis
compare osteoarthritisMore from Merriam-Webster on rheumatoid arthritis
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rheumatoid arthritis
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