Crohn's disease

noun

ˈkrōnz- How to pronounce Crohn's disease (audio)
variants or less commonly Crohn disease
ˈkrōn- How to pronounce Crohn's disease (audio)
or Crohn's
: chronic inflammation that typically involves the lower portion of the ileum, often spreads to the colon, and is characterized by diarrhea, cramping, loss of appetite and weight, and the development of abscesses and scarring see inflammatory bowel disease

Examples of Crohn's disease 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.
However, more research is needed on its use in Crohn's disease. — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 17 May 2026 Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the two main conditions that make up IBD. — Sarah Hudgens, Health, 6 Nov. 2025 Pumper says people with certain conditions, like IBS or Crohn's disease, should talk to their doctor first, because eating too much fiber, or the wrong kinds, can make symptoms worse. — Maria Godoy, NPR, 18 May 2026 We were also asked to include things like budesonide [a treatment for Crohn's disease] and clarithromycin [an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections] in our toolkits for physicians. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Crohn's disease

Word History

Etymology

Burrill B. Crohn †1983 American physician

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Crohn's disease was in 1935

Rhymes for Crohn's disease

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Browse Nearby Words

crofton weed
Crohn's disease
croisade
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Cite this Entry

“Crohn's disease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Crohn%27s%20disease. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

Crohn's disease

noun
ˈkrōnz-
variants also Crohn disease
ˈkrōn- How to pronounce Crohn's disease (audio)
or Crohn's
: chronic ileitis that typically involves the distal portion of the ileum, often spreads to the colon, and is characterized by diarrhea, cramping, and loss of appetite and weight with local abscesses and scarring

called also regional enteritis, regional ileitis

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