leprosy

noun

lep·​ro·​sy ˈle-prə-sē 

1

: a chronic infectious disease caused by a mycobacterium (Mycobacterium leprae) affecting especially the skin and peripheral nerves and characterized by the formation of nodules or macules that enlarge and spread accompanied by loss of sensation with eventual paralysis, wasting of muscle, and production of deformities

called also Hansen's disease

2

: a morally or spiritually harmful influence

leprotic

le-ˈprä-tik 

adjective

Examples of leprosy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most people are immune to leprosy and there’s an effective combination of antibiotic treatment for those who do contract it. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

These are known to infect mycobacteria, a pathogenic species that causes leprosy, tuberculosis, and chronic lung infections, among other diseases. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 Oct. 2024

Mycobacterium leprae causes the bacterial infection, leprosy, and primarily affects the nerves and skin. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

Inskip and her colleagues zeroed in on the medieval city of Winchester, which had not only skinners, tailors, and furriers, but also a hospital for leprosy patients. —Bysean Cummings, science.org, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lepruse, from leprous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing leprosy

• anti-leprosy

Kids Definition

leprosy

noun

lep·​ro·​sy ˈlep-rə-sē 

: a disease caused by a bacterium and marked by slow-growing spreading swellings accompanied by loss of sensation, wasting away of muscles, and by deformities

called also Hansen's disease

Medical Definition

leprosy

noun

lep·​ro·​sy ˈlep-rə-sē 

plural leprosies

: a chronic infectious disease that is caused by a mycobacterium (Mycobacterium leprae), affects especially the skin and peripheral nerves, and is characterized by the formation of nodules or macules that enlarge and spread and are accompanied by loss of sensation with eventual paralysis, wasting of muscle, and production of deformities

About 12 million people worldwide have leprosy, a disfiguring, chronic infection that damages nerves, skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.

—Harvard Health Letter

The good news is that leprosy is relatively easy to diagnose and cure. It is caused by the microbe Mycobacterium leprae, which produces telltale symptoms of enlarged nerves and light-coloured patches of numb skin on a patient's face or extremities.

—Bryn Nelson, New Scientist

Leprosy is actually the least infectious of the major communicable diseases.

—Sandra Dallas, Business Week

Leprosy … is progressive and causes the growth of widely distributed lumps on the skin and thickening of the skin and nerves. Severe cases are characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis.

—Insight

called also hansenosis, Hansen's disease, lepra

see lepromatous leprosy, tuberculoid leprosy