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Definition of rickets
rickets
/ˈrɪk.ɪts/
rick · ets
Adjective:rachitic
rickets Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
Syllables
2
rickets Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A disease of children caused by vitamin D or calcium deficiency, characterized by imperfect calcification, softening, and distortion of the bones typically resulting in bow legs.
Example
"The fortification of milk with vitamin D largely eradicated rickets in industrialized nations during the twentieth century."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for ricketsWord Nuance & Usage
Although 'rickets' is plural in form, it functions as an uncountable noun and typically takes a singular verb (e.g., 'Rickets is preventable with adequate vitamin D').
• Rhymes for rickets
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 17th century in southwestern England, the word is likely an alteration of the Greek medical term 'rhakhitis' (meaning disease of the spine) or derived from the dialectal English verb 'wrick' (meaning to twist or sprain).
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rickets. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rickets