Definition

A serious lung disease that develops after breathing in tiny asbestos fibers over a long time, leading to lung damage and breathing problems.

Example

Workers in construction and shipbuilding are at risk of developing asbestosis due to exposure to asbestos.

Conversation

I read an article about asbestosis the other day.

Oh really? I’ve heard it's a pretty serious condition.

Yeah, it’s caused by inhaling asbestos particles over time.

That sounds really concerning; we should be careful about where we work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Asbestosis is formed from "asbestos" (from Greek "asbestos", meaning unquenchable or inextinguishable) and the suffix "-osis" (from Greek "osis", meaning a condition or disease). The term refers to a condition caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, leading to lung disease.

Memory Tip

Think of 'asbestos' meaning something that is unquenchable, and '-osis' indicating a condition. This helps you remember that asbestosis is a disease related to the inhalation of unquenchable asbestos fibers.

Visually Confused Words