sclerosis

From Ancient Greek σκλήρωσις (sklḗrōsis, “an induration”), from *σκληροῦν (sklēroûn, “to harden, indurate”), from σκληρός (sklērós, “hard”).

• IPA^(key): /sklɪˈɹəʊsɪs/
• Rhymes: -əʊsɪs

sclerosis (countable and uncountable, plural scleroses)

1. (pathology) The abnormal hardening of body tissues, such as an artery; the appearance of hardenings, indurations, lesions, nodules.
2. Inability to create change or excessive resistance to change.
   • 2019 December 6, Charles Hugh Smith, Suppressing Dissent Guarantees Disorder and Collapse‎:

     Suppressing dissent dooms the society to sclerosis, decline and collapse.

• sclera

• sclerosis in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• sclerosis in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911