noun
Uncommon
sclerosis
skluh-ROH-sihs
Sclerosis (noun) means a medical condition in which body tissue, such as an artery, hardens abnormally. Example: “Multiple sclerosis damages the coating around nerve fibres.”
noun
1
A medical condition in which body tissue, such as an artery, hardens abnormally.
"Multiple sclerosis damages the coating around nerve fibres."
"Arterial sclerosis reduces blood flow to the heart."
2
A resistance to change, especially in an organization or system that has become rigid.
"Critics blamed the company's decline on years of managerial sclerosis."
How to use sclerosis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally, tissue turning hard when it should stay flexible; figuratively, an organization or process getting too rigid to adapt.
Common pairings
multiple sclerosis
arterial sclerosis
bureaucratic sclerosis
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Word forms
- Plural
- scleroses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Multiple _____ damages the coating around nerve fibres.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek sklerosis, "hardening," from skleros, "hard."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sclerosis
meiosis
mitosis
osmosis
stenosis
acidosis
zoonosis
cyanosis
necrosis
neurosis
hypnosis
fibrosis
silicosis
See all rhymes for sclerosis →
Frequently asked questions
What does “sclerosis” mean?
The word “sclerosis” means a medical condition in which body tissue, such as an artery, hardens abnormally. In plain terms, literally, tissue turning hard when it should stay flexible; figuratively, an organization or process getting too rigid to adapt.
How do you pronounce “sclerosis”?
“Sclerosis” is pronounced skluh-ROH-sihs (/skləˈɹoʊ.sɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “sclerosis” in a sentence?
Here is “sclerosis” used in a sentence: “Multiple sclerosis damages the coating around nerve fibres.”
What part of speech is “sclerosis”?
“Sclerosis” is a noun.
Where does the word “sclerosis” come from?
The word “sclerosis” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek sklerosis, "hardening," from skleros, "hard.".
Is “sclerosis” a common word?
“Sclerosis” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sclerosis” have?
“Sclerosis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medical condition in which body tissue, such as an artery, hardens abnormally.
