rheumatoid
adj.adj. relating to a painful condition where your joints become swollen, stiff, and sore. It is usually used to describe a specific type of long-term illness called arthritis.
adj. relating to or suffering from inflammation and stiffness of the joints, typically associated with an autoimmune disorder. Often used to modify 'arthritis' or 'disease'.
She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis in her hands.
The doctor ordered blood tests to check for rheumatoid factors that might explain the patient's joint pain.
Early diagnosis of rheumatoid conditions is essential for preventing permanent joint damage, as modern treatments can significantly reduce the inflammation that causes long-term structural issues.
From rheumat(ism) + -oid.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used attributively before a noun, most commonly 'arthritis'.
Last updated May 11, 2026