arteriosclerosis

noun

ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity compare atherosclerosis
arteriosclerotic
är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrä-tik How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
adjective or noun

Examples of arteriosclerosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His cause of death was coronary artery thrombosis due to arteriosclerosis and blunt force injury to the head. — The Indianapolis Star, 28 Jan. 2023 In this study, researchers looked for evidence of brain lesions known as hyaline arteriosclerosis. — Cathy Nelson, Health, 7 May 2025 The cause was cerebral arteriosclerosis, said her son John Fitzpatrick. — Michael S. Rosenwald, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2023 Fellow pro wrestler Kohei Suwama suggested to Tokyo Sports on Monday that Yoshie suffered from arteriosclerosis. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 12 Mar. 2024 See All Example Sentences for arteriosclerosis

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French artériosclerose, from artério- arterio- + sclerose sclerosis

Note: The term was introduced by the German-born French physician Jean Frédéric Lobstein (1777-1835) in Traité d'anatomie pathologique, tome second (Paris, 1833), p. 550.

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of arteriosclerosis was in 1860

Rhymes for arteriosclerosis

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Browse Nearby Words

arteriole
arteriosclerosis
arterious
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arteriosclerosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arteriosclerosis. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

arteriosclerosis

noun
ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
: a disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries
arteriosclerotic
-ˈrät-ik How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
adjective or noun

Medical Definition

arteriosclerosis

noun
ar·​te·​rio·​scle·​ro·​sis är-ˌtir-ē-ō-sklə-ˈrō-səs How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
plural arterioscleroses -ˌsēz How to pronounce arteriosclerosis (audio)
: a chronic disease characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with resulting loss of elasticity see atherosclerosis

More from Merriam-Webster on arteriosclerosis

Nglish: Translation of arteriosclerosis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about arteriosclerosis

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