tennis elbow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Everyday, Medical
Quick answer
What does “tennis elbow” mean?
A painful inflammation of the tendons on the outer side of the elbow, caused by repetitive strain.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A painful inflammation of the tendons on the outer side of the elbow, caused by repetitive strain.
A common overuse injury (lateral epicondylitis) affecting the forearm muscles and tendons where they attach to the elbow's lateral epicondyle, often but not exclusively associated with racquet sports.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is identical and equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries the same medical and colloquial connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English, given the global nature of sports medicine.
Grammar
How to Use “tennis elbow” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/developed/suffers from tennis elbow.Tennis elbow was diagnosed in [Patient].To treat/relieve/manage tennis elbow.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tennis elbow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The physio warned he might tennis-elbow himself if he doesn't improve his technique. (informal, rare as verb)
American English
- She tennis-elbowed her way through the season, playing through the pain. (informal, rare as verb)
adjective
British English
- He's attending a tennis-elbow clinic at the surgery.
American English
- She's doing tennis-elbow rehabilitation exercises.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in workplace health & safety discussions about repetitive strain injuries.
Academic
Common in medical, sports science, and physiotherapy texts.
Everyday
Common in general conversation about health, sports, and minor injuries.
Technical
Standard term in orthopedics, physiotherapy, and sports medicine; often clarified with 'lateral epicondylitis'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tennis elbow”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tennis elbow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tennis elbow”
- Incorrect: 'I have a tennis elbow.' Correct: 'I have tennis elbow.' (Generally used as a non-count condition, like 'I have flu').
- Confusing it with 'golfer's elbow' (which affects the inner side of the elbow).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Any activity involving repetitive gripping or wrist extension, such as plumbing, painting, typing, or carpentry, can cause it.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) affects the outer side of the elbow. Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the inner side.
Initial treatment typically involves rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and specific physiotherapy exercises. More persistent cases may require braces, steroid injections, or, rarely, surgery.
No, it is usually not permanent. Most cases resolve with conservative treatment over weeks or months, though it can become chronic without proper management.
A painful inflammation of the tendons on the outer side of the elbow, caused by repetitive strain.
Tennis elbow is usually everyday, medical in register.
Tennis elbow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈten.ɪs ˌel.bəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈten.ɪs ˌel.boʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a fixed medical/colloquial compound term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a tennis player repeatedly hitting a backhand and then clutching the OUTSIDE of their elbow in pain. Tennis + elbow = pain on the outer elbow.
Conceptual Metaphor
BODY IS A MACHINE (that can suffer from wear and tear/overuse).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of tennis elbow?