noun
itis
EYE-tihs
Itis (noun) means informal term for any condition marked by inflammation, taken loosely from medical terms like "arthritis" or "tonsillitis.". Example: “The doctor joked that his sore knee was just a case of "itis.”
noun
1
Informal term for any condition marked by inflammation, taken loosely from medical terms like "arthritis" or "tonsillitis."
"The doctor joked that his sore knee was just a case of "itis.""
2
Slang for the sleepy, sluggish feeling after eating a large meal, especially associated with Thanksgiving dinner.
"After the turkey and pie, everyone on the couch had a bad case of the itis."
How to use itis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishInformally, either a vague "inflamed something" or, in slang, the food-coma drowsiness after a big meal.
When to use it
Very informal — not used in clinical or formal writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- itises
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The doctor joked that his sore knee was just a case of "_____."
Etymology
A back-formation from the medical suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation (as in "bronchitis" or "appendicitis").
Rhymes for itis
gastritis
sinusitis
hepatitis
arthritis
dermatitis
laryngitis
bronchitis
meningitis
peritonitis
tonsillitis
appendicitis
encephalitis
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Frequently asked questions
What does “itis” mean?
The word “itis” means informal term for any condition marked by inflammation, taken loosely from medical terms like "arthritis" or "tonsillitis.". In plain terms, informally, either a vague "inflamed something" or, in slang, the food-coma drowsiness after a big meal.
How do you pronounce “itis”?
“Itis” is pronounced EYE-tihs (/ˈaɪtɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “itis” in a sentence?
Here is “itis” used in a sentence: “The doctor joked that his sore knee was just a case of "itis.".”
What part of speech is “itis”?
“Itis” is a noun.
How many meanings does “itis” have?
“Itis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal term for any condition marked by inflammation, taken loosely from medical terms like "arthritis" or "tonsillitis.".
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