# appendicitis

/əˌpɛnˌdɪˈsaɪtɪz/ (US) · /ɐpˌɛndɪsˈaɪtɪs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/appendicitis
Updated: 2026-05-27

## Definition

a painful illness where the small tube at the end of your large intestine becomes swollen and infected. It usually needs surgery to fix.

For teachers: inflammation of the appendix, a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the cecum. Often requires surgical removal to prevent rupture and peritonitis.

## Examples

- He went to the hospital because he thought he had appendicitis.
- The doctor suspected appendicitis after the patient reported severe pain in the lower right side of his abdomen.
- While some cases of appendicitis can be managed with antibiotics, the standard medical protocol remains an emergency appendectomy to prevent the organ from bursting and releasing infection into the abdominal cavity.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.