rheumatic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-medium frequency, primarily in medical/older-generation contexts.Formal/Medical when referring to the condition. Informal when referring to a person ('an old rheumatic'). Can be slightly dated or literary in extended use.
Quick answer
What does “rheumatic” mean?
Relating to, suffering from, or characteristic of rheumatism, a disease causing pain and stiffness in the joints or muscles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to, suffering from, or characteristic of rheumatism, a disease causing pain and stiffness in the joints or muscles.
May describe things (e.g., a chair, heating) suitable for or reminiscent of someone suffering from such conditions, often suggesting stiffness or aching. Can refer informally to a person who has rheumatism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is similar. The informal noun for a person ('he's a bit of a rheumatic') might be slightly more common in UK English.
Connotations
Both varieties share connotations of chronic illness and age. The word can sound somewhat old-fashioned in general use.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English, particularly in phrases like 'rheumatic fever' or 'rheumatic pains' in everyday older-speaker talk.
Grammar
How to Use “rheumatic” in a Sentence
suffer from [rheumatic pains]diagnosed with [a rheumatic condition]prone to [rheumatic complaints]stiff with [rheumatic ache]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rheumatic” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'rheumatically' is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- N/A - 'rheumatically' is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- The elderly gentleman moved with a rheumatic slowness.
- She applied a balm for her rheumatic shoulder.
American English
- His rheumatic joints ached before the storm.
- The doctor specialized in rheumatic diseases.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in medical/biological contexts (e.g., 'rheumatic pathophysiology').
Everyday
Used to describe persistent aches, especially by older speakers. 'My rheumatic knee is playing up again.'
Technical
Used in medicine (rheumatology), e.g., 'rheumatic autoantibodies', 'rheumatic valvular disease'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rheumatic”
- Pronouncing it as 'room-atic' /ˈruːmætɪk/ (incorrect) instead of 'roo-matic' /ruːˈmætɪk/.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I rheumatise').
- Confusing 'rheumatic' (adj/n) with 'rheumatism' (n) or 'rheumatoid' (adj, more specific).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Arthritis' specifically refers to joint inflammation. 'Rheumatic' is a broader, sometimes older term relating to rheumatism, which can involve muscles and soft tissues as well as joints.
Yes, informally, it can be a noun meaning a person who suffers from rheumatism (e.g., 'The old rheumatic complained about the damp'). This usage is somewhat dated.
It is a serious inflammatory disease that can develop as a complication of untreated strep throat, potentially affecting the heart, joints, skin, and brain.
It's less common in general young people's conversation. It persists in medical contexts (rheumatology) and in the speech of older generations describing aches and pains.
Relating to, suffering from, or characteristic of rheumatism, a disease causing pain and stiffness in the joints or muscles.
Rheumatic is usually formal/medical when referring to the condition. informal when referring to a person ('an old rheumatic'). can be slightly dated or literary in extended use. in register.
Rheumatic: in British English it is pronounced /ruːˈmætɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ruˈmæt̬ɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stiff as a rheumatic post (rare, metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'RHEUMatic' pains make you feel like you're in a gloomy (rhymes with 'gloom') state of stiffness.
Conceptual Metaphor
STIFFNESS IS RUST / A LACK OF FLUIDS. The body is a machine seizing up or a joint drying out.
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase uses 'rheumatic' correctly?