rheumatism
noun
rheu·ma·tism ˈrü-mə-ˌti-zəm 
ˈru̇-
1
: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue
muscular rheumatism
2
: rheumatoid arthritis
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web That paper suggests the Amazonians used the bite to treat rheumatism for centuries. 
Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 14 July 2022 It’s located in the Natural Park of the Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja and in addition to having exceptional color, this lake is said to have therapeutic properties — especially for rheumatism — thanks to the healing components of its salty waters. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 15 May 2022 One member, Yuri Yudin, turned back on January 27 because his rheumatism had flared up, and the knee and joint pain was too severe to continue. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 31 Mar. 2022 By 1927, Radium Sulphur Springs had changed its name to Hollywood Mineral Springs, capitalizing on the local product, and now claiming treatments — not cures — for rheumatism, high blood pressure, neuritis and sciatica, and excess weight. Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2021 Patients suffering from tuberculosis, rheumatism and gout flocked to the property’s three turn-of-the-20th-century soaking pools, surrounded by rocks and palm trees. Mickey Rapkin, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2021 When rheumatism forced him to seek treatment in Seattle, best wishes were addressed to Young Viking. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Dec. 2020 One woman brought her son, who suffered from a chronic illness that doctors in the region hadn’t been able to identify; Shikankov quickly diagnosed the boy’s rheumatism. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2020 Tiger-bone wine is believed to cure rheumatism, weakness, or paralysis. Jenni Marsh, CNN, 15 Aug. 2020 See More
Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 14 July 2022 It’s located in the Natural Park of the Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja and in addition to having exceptional color, this lake is said to have therapeutic properties — especially for rheumatism — thanks to the healing components of its salty waters. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 15 May 2022 One member, Yuri Yudin, turned back on January 27 because his rheumatism had flared up, and the knee and joint pain was too severe to continue. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 31 Mar. 2022 By 1927, Radium Sulphur Springs had changed its name to Hollywood Mineral Springs, capitalizing on the local product, and now claiming treatments — not cures — for rheumatism, high blood pressure, neuritis and sciatica, and excess weight. Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2021 Patients suffering from tuberculosis, rheumatism and gout flocked to the property’s three turn-of-the-20th-century soaking pools, surrounded by rocks and palm trees. Mickey Rapkin, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2021 When rheumatism forced him to seek treatment in Seattle, best wishes were addressed to Young Viking. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Dec. 2020 One woman brought her son, who suffered from a chronic illness that doctors in the region hadn’t been able to identify; Shikankov quickly diagnosed the boy’s rheumatism. Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2020 Tiger-bone wine is believed to cure rheumatism, weakness, or paralysis. Jenni Marsh, CNN, 15 Aug. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin rheumatismus flux, rheum, from Greek rheumatismos, from rheumatizesthai to suffer from a flux, from rheumat-, rheuma flux
First Known Use
1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
rheumatism
noun
rheu·ma·tism ˈrü-mə-ˌti-zəm
: a condition in which muscles or joints are painful
Medical Definition
rheumatism
noun
rheu·ma·tism ˈrü-mə-ˌtiz-əm ˈru̇m-ə-
ˈru̇m-ə- 1
: any of various conditions characterized by inflammation or pain in muscles, joints, or fibrous tissue
muscular rheumatism
2
: rheumatoid arthritis