1. the process of forming bone or of becoming bone
Usage: medical; biological
2. the process of becoming rigid, inflexible, or set in one’s ways
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The ossification of cartilage occurs during normal bone development.
• X-rays showed incomplete ossification in the child’s growing bones.
• The doctor explained that ossification continues into early adulthood.
• The company’s ossification prevented it from adapting to new technology.
• His mental ossification made him resistant to new ideas.
• The ossification of old traditions hindered progress in the organization.