Meaning & use

inflammation

noun·Academic

A localized reaction of the body, marked by redness, heat, swelling, and pain, in response to injury or infection.

See it in a sentence

Icing the sprained ankle helped reduce the swelling and inflammation.

Chronic inflammation in the joints is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis.

A note on using this word

Inflammation is the body's protective response and is not the same as infection, though infections often trigger it.

Words with a similar meaning

swellingirritation

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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