ankylosing spondylitis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Medical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “ankylosing spondylitis” mean?
A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential fusion of the vertebrae.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential fusion of the vertebrae.
A progressive, systemic form of inflammatory arthritis belonging to the spondyloarthritis family. It causes inflammation of the spinal joints (vertebrae) that can result in severe, chronic pain and discomfort. Over time, this inflammation can cause the affected vertebrae to fuse together, leading to reduced spinal flexibility and potentially a stooped posture. It can also affect other joints, eyes, and entheses (sites where tendons/ligaments attach to bone).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
Solely medical/clinical, with no cultural or colloquial variations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects, used almost exclusively in healthcare, medical research, and patient education contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “ankylosing spondylitis” in a Sentence
Patient HAS ankylosing spondylitis.Ankylosing spondylitis AFFECTS the spine.Ankylosing spondylitis is DIAGNOSED/TREATED with...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ankylosing spondylitis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vertebrae may eventually ankylose.
- The disease process can lead to ankylosing of the joints.
American English
- The vertebrae may eventually ankylose.
- The inflammatory process leads to ankylosing of the sacroiliac joints.
adverb
British English
- The spine fused ankylotically over a decade.
American English
- The joints progressed ankylotically, limiting movement.
adjective
British English
- He has an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis.
- The ankylosed spine showed limited mobility.
American English
- She is an ankylosing spondylitis patient.
- The x-ray revealed an ankylosed spinal segment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical/healthcare business discussing treatments.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and public health literature.
Everyday
Very rare. Usually explained as "a type of inflammatory arthritis of the back."
Technical
Standard, precise term in rheumatology, radiology, orthopaedics, and general medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ankylosing spondylitis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ankylosing spondylitis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ankylosing spondylitis”
- Misspelling as 'ankylosis spondylitis', 'ankolising spondylitis' or 'ankylosing spondilitis'. Pronouncing 'spondylitis' with a /z/ sound for the 's' (spon-zylitis). Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an ankylosing spondylitis'). It is a non-count disease name.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a specific, systemic inflammatory disease, not mechanical or muscular back pain.
There is currently no cure, but symptoms can be managed effectively with medication, physical therapy, and exercise to reduce pain and maintain mobility.
It often begins in early adulthood (late teens to 30s) and is more common in men, though it occurs in women as well.
It comes from the Greek 'ankylos' meaning stiff, bent, or fusion, referring to the potential for the vertebrae to fuse together.
A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease primarily affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and potential fusion of the vertebrae.
Ankylosing spondylitis is usually medical/technical in register.
Ankylosing spondylitis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæŋ.kɪˌləʊ.zɪŋ ˌspɒn.dɪˈlaɪ.tɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæŋ.kɪˌloʊ.zɪŋ ˌspɑːn.dɪˈlaɪ.t̬ɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bamboo spine (radiological sign of AS)”
- “Poker back”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"Stiff (ankylos) Spine (spondylo) Inflammation (-itis)" – The name describes its core effect: a stiffening inflammation of the spine.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE SPINE IS A FUSING/STIFFENING STRUCTURE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary area affected by ankylosing spondylitis?