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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 notes

In 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

Word forms

scleroses plural

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Can you complete this real example?

Multiple _____ damages the coating around nerve fibres.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek sklerosis, "hardening," from skleros, "hard."

Origin: Ancient Greek

Related words

Rhymes for sclerosis

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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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial