# leprosy

/ˈɫɛpɹəsi/ (US) · /lˈɛpɹəsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leprosy
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the medical disease

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a long-lasting disease that damages the skin and nerves, sometimes leading to the loss of body parts.

For teachers: a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, resulting in nerve damage, muscle weakness, and skin lesions. Uncountable in its medical sense.

- In ancient times, there was no effective cure for leprosy.
- Modern multidrug therapy has made leprosy a curable condition, significantly reducing the global prevalence of the disease since the late twentieth century.

### 2. figurative corruption

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

something bad that spreads and should be avoided or kept away from others.

For teachers: a figurative reference to a corrupting influence or a condition that results in social exclusion and moral decay.

- The corruption in the city government was like a leprosy that destroyed everything.
- The critic described the spread of cynical propaganda as a moral leprosy, eating away at the foundations of the democratic institution.

### 3. historical/biblical skin conditions

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a word used in old books to describe many different types of skin problems.

For teachers: a broad historical or biblical term for various contagious skin diseases, including psoriasis and vitiligo, often involving ritual uncleanness.

- The old text mentions leprosy, but it might have been a different skin problem.
- Scholars argue that the leprosy described in the Old Testament likely refers to a range of dermatological conditions rather than the specific bacterial infection known today.

## Examples

- The doctor explained that leprosy is now easily treatable.
- In the past, people with leprosy were often forced to live in separate colonies to prevent the spread of the disease.
- While the term leprosy is still used in medical literature, modern clinical practice has shifted toward the more neutral designation of Hansen's disease to reduce the historical stigma associated with the condition.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.