thrombosis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Medical/Formal
Quick answer
What does “thrombosis” mean?
The formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood.
A pathological process in which a blood clot forms within the vascular system. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe any severe obstruction or blockage in a system, though this is less common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. Pronunciations differ slightly.
Connotations
Identical medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “thrombosis” in a Sentence
patient + develop + thrombosisthrombosis + in + (vessel/organ)thrombosis + of + (vessel/organ)risk + for/of + thrombosisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thrombosis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vessel may thrombose if left untreated.
- The catheterised vein began to thrombose.
American English
- The artery can thrombose rapidly.
- Patients on bed rest are more likely to thrombose.
adverb
British English
- The clot formed thrombogenically.
- (Rare; typically 'in a thrombotic manner' is used)
American English
- (Rare; adverbial use is highly technical and uncommon)
adjective
British English
- The thrombotic event was confirmed by scan.
- She has a thrombotic predisposition.
American English
- He was put on medication for thrombotic prevention.
- The thrombotic occlusion was severe.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; only in corporate health reports or pharmaceutical industry contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and health science research and literature.
Everyday
Used in general news reports about health; laypeople may know terms like 'DVT' (deep vein thrombosis).
Technical
The standard, precise term in clinical medicine, haematology, and pathology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thrombosis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thrombosis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thrombosis”
- Using 'thrombosis' to refer to the clot itself (which is a 'thrombus').
- Misspelling as 'thrombosos' or 'trombosis'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'thrombosis on the leg' instead of 'thrombosis in the leg'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A stroke is a clinical event (brain damage from impaired blood flow). A 'cerebral thrombosis' is one specific *cause* of a stroke, where a clot forms in a brain artery.
Thrombosis is local clot formation. An embolism occurs when a clot (or other material) travels from elsewhere and lodges in a vessel, blocking it. A thrombus that embolises becomes a 'thromboembolism'.
Rarely. It is sometimes used metaphorically (e.g., 'a thrombosis in the financial system'), but this is a stylistic choice and not standard usage.
DVT stands for 'Deep Vein Thrombosis'. It is the most commonly referred-to type of thrombosis, where a clot forms in the deep veins of the leg or pelvis.
The formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood.
Thrombosis is usually medical/formal in register.
Thrombosis: in British English it is pronounced /θrɒmˈbəʊsɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /θrɑːmˈboʊsɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'THROMB' sounds like 'clump' or 'thumb' (something thick). '-OSIS' is a condition (like in 'neurosis'). So, it's the condition of having a thick clump (clot) in your blood.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CLOT IS A BLOCKAGE/OBSTRUCTION IN A PIPELINE (e.g., 'a thrombosis in the artery').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary difference between 'thrombosis' and 'thrombus'?