Definition

A medical condition where the pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs, becomes inflamed, often causing pain during breathing and coughing.

Example

The doctor diagnosed her with pleurisy after she complained of sharp chest pain.

Conversation

I heard my neighbor is in the hospital with pleurisy.

Oh no, that sounds really painful!

Yeah, I read that it can make breathing really difficult.

I hope he recovers quickly; that sounds tough to deal with.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pleurisy → It is derived from the Greek word "pleura" (meaning rib or side) and the suffix "-isy" (indicating a condition or disease). The term pleurisy refers to the condition affecting the pleura, which are the membranes surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pleura' which means the 'side' or 'rib' — pleurisy is a condition related to the membranes around the lungs.

Visually Confused Words