pol-ee-POH-sis
/ˌpɒl.iˈpoʊ.sɪs/
polyposis is pronounced pol-ee-POH-sis (/ˌpɒl.iˈpoʊ.sɪs/). Polyposis refers to the condition of having multiple polyps, usually in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract or nasal passages. It denotes a pathological proliferation of polyp tissue and can be associated with hereditary syndromes or sporadic occurrences. In medical contexts, it often implies a risk of malignancy or complications stemming from polyp burden.
Polyposis refers to the condition of having multiple polyps, usually in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract or nasal passages. It denotes a pathological proliferation of polyp tissue and can be associated with hereditary syndromes or sporadic occurrences. In medical contexts, it often implies a risk of malignancy or complications stemming from polyp burden.
"The patient was evaluated for polyposis to assess the risk of colorectal cancer."
"Hereditary polyposis syndromes require regular surveillance and genetic testing."
"Nasal polyposis can cause chronic sinusitis and obstructed breathing."
Pronounce as PO-lɪ-POH-sis, stress on the second syllable: /ˌpɒlɪˈpoʊsɪs/ in US practice. In UK and AU, use the same two-stressed pattern with vowels closer to /ə/ for the second syllable: /ˌpɒlɪˈpəʊsɪs/. Start with a short
Common mistakes include misplacing stress on the first or third syllable, and mispronouncing the second vowel as a pure /ɒ/ or /oʊ/ instead of a clearer /ɪ/ or /əʊ/. Correct by emphasizing the second syllable and using a clear /oʊ/ diphthong in the third syllable. Ensure final -sis is /sɪs/ not /zɪz/ in careful medical delivery.
US: /ˌpɒlɪˈpoʊsɪs/ with rhotic influence minimal; UK/AU: /ˌpɒlɪˈpəʊsɪs/ featuring a clearer /əʊ/ in the second half and less rhoticity in non-rhotic variants. The main difference lies in the second vowel: US favors /oʊ/; UK/AU favor /əʊ/. The initial /pɒ/ is common across, with short first syllable and reduced syllable before the stressed one.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable length with a stressed second syllable and a diphthong in the third syllable. The transition from /lɪ/ to /poʊ/ requires careful mouth opening and precise vowel height; the final /sɪs/ should stay clean. Non-native speakers often stumble on the /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ transition and put stress on the wrong syllable.
The word blends a polyp-related root with a suffix tied to growth, creating a rare stress pattern: secondary stress on the third metrical unit with a mid-central vowel in the second half in many dialects. This requires precise vowel articulation across multiple phonemes and careful rhythm management to avoid sounding like 'polypo-sis' or 'poly-posis'.
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US: rhotic, light /r/; UK/AU: often non-rhotic; second syllable vowel quality shifts: /ɪ/ vs /ə/. Vowel length is not phonemic in these forms, but diphthongs are important to the third syllable; use /oʊ/ in US and /əʊ/ in UK/AU. IPA references included.
Polyposis comes from the Greek poly- meaning many and -posis from pous, pod- meaning foot, but in medical usage it is extended to polyp by analogy with the Greek pous meaning foot in the sense of something that stands or projects. The term polyposis first appears in late 19th to early 20th century medical literature as clinicians described conditions characterized by numerous polyps rather than a single growth. The root poly- meaning many is common across medical terms for multiplicity (polygraph, polyglot). The suffix -posis relates to growth or development, tracing back to Greek -pōsis (creation, formation). Over time, polyposis has been used to designate specific hereditary colorectal syndromes (e.g., familial adenomatous polyposis) and non-hereditary polyp proliferation in various mucosal linings. In modern usage, it encompasses both diffuse polyp burdens in the gastrointestinal tract and sinonasal polyposis, with diagnostic criteria tied to polyp count, distribution, and genetic risk factors. The word’s meaning shifted from a general observation of many polyp-like structures to a precise clinicopathologic syndrome defined by polyp multiplicity, distribution patterns, and associated conditions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "polyposis" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "polyposis"
-sis sounds
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