nephritis

noun

ne·​phri·​tis ni-ˈfrī-təs How to pronounce nephritis (audio)
plural nephritides ni-ˈfri-tə-ˌdēz How to pronounce nephritis (audio)
: acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney caused by infection, degenerative process, or vascular disease

Examples of nephritis 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.
Her lupus nephritis went into remission in 2017. — Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026 Lupus nephritis is a complication of the autoimmune disease lupus. — Kashif J. Piracha, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024 Kidney function can be affected in lupus, and about 50 percent of patients develop nephritis. — Richard Sima, Washington Post, 12 July 2024 By inhibiting calcineurin, voclosporin reduces the overactive immune response that drives lupus nephritis. — Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for nephritis

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin, from Greek, from nephros kidney; probably akin to Middle English nere kidney

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nephritis was in 1566

Rhymes for nephritis

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Browse Nearby Words

nephritic wood
nephritis
nephroblast
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

nephritis

noun
ne·​phri·​tis ni-ˈfrīt-əs How to pronounce nephritis (audio)
plural nephritides -ˈfrit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce nephritis (audio)
: inflammation of the kidneys

Medical Definition

nephritis

noun
ne·​phri·​tis ni-ˈfrīt-əs How to pronounce nephritis (audio)
plural nephritides -ˈfrit-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce nephritis (audio)
: acute or chronic inflammation of the kidney affecting the structure (as of the glomerulus or parenchyma) and caused by infection, a degenerative process, or vascular disease compare nephrosclerosis, nephrosis

More from Merriam-Webster on nephritis

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nephritis

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