itis
n. uncountable C2 Proficiency itis
n. a suffix used in medical names to mean 'inflammation'. You see it in words like arthritis or hepatitis to describe a swollen, painful part of the body.
n. a suffix denoting inflammation of a specific organ or tissue. Used in medical terminology to form compound nouns, such as 'arthritis' or 'tonsillitis'.
The doctor explained that the suffix 'itis' means inflammation.
Medical students learn that the suffix 'itis' is used to identify conditions where the body's tissues are swollen and irritated.
While the suffix 'itis' is strictly medical in its primary application, it has been borrowed into informal speech to describe any situation characterized by intense, often unnecessary, conflict or irritation.