asbestosis
|as-bes-to-sis|
🇺🇸
/ˌæs.bɛsˈtoʊ.sɪs/
🇬🇧
/ˌæs.besˈtɒs.ɪs/
lung disease (scarring) from asbestos exposure
Etymology
'asbestosis' originates from Modern English, specifically from the word 'asbestos' (itself from Greek 'asbestos') combined with the Greek suffix '-osis', where 'asbestos' originally meant 'inextinguishable' and '-osis' meant 'disease' or 'abnormal condition'.
'asbestosis' was formed in English by combining 'asbestos' + '-osis' in the late 19th to early 20th century as a medical term referring to the disease caused by asbestos exposure; it entered medical usage in English around the early 1900s.
Initially it referred specifically to the lung condition caused by asbestos exposure, and over time the term has retained that specific medical meaning of asbestos-related pulmonary fibrosis.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, characterized by inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs; symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent cough, and reduced lung function.
He was diagnosed with asbestosis after years of working in the shipyard.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/25 15:50