noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A forward displacement of a vertebra over a lower vertebra, due to a congenital defect or injury. countable, uncountable
2. 2
   a forward dislocation of one vertebra over the one beneath it producing pressure on spinal nerves wordnet

Etymology

From Latin spondylolisthesis, equivalent to spondylo- (“spine”) + Ancient Greek ὀλισθάνω (olisthánō, “to slip, slide”) + -esis.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.