osteoporosis

noun os·te·o·po·ro·sis \ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs\

medical : a condition in which the bones become weak and break easily

plural os·te·o·po·ro·ses\-ˌsēz\

Full Definition of OSTEOPOROSIS

: 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

— os·te·o·po·rot·ic \-ˈrä-tik\ adjective

See osteoporosis defined for English-language learners

See osteoporosis defined for kids

Origin of OSTEOPOROSIS

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

First Known Use: 1846

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Medical Dictionary

osteoporosis

noun os·teo·po·ro·sis \ˌäs-tē-ō-pə-ˈrō-səs\

plural os·teo·po·ro·ses \-ˌsēz\

Medical Definition of OSTEOPOROSIS

: 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

—os·teo·po·rot·ic \-ˈrät-ik\ adjective