Word
lupus
Phoneticslu·pus
US/ˈɫupəs/
UK/lˈuːpəs/
Definition
n. a serious medical condition where your body's defense system attacks your own healthy skin, joints, and organs. It often causes a red rash on the face and makes you feel very tired.
n. a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and organs. Characterised by systemic inflammation and often presenting with a distinctive butterfly-shaped facial rash.
Examples
“She was diagnosed with lupus after experiencing joint pain and fatigue.”
“Because lupus symptoms often mimic other illnesses, it can take doctors a long time to reach a definitive diagnosis.”
“The patient's systemic lupus erythematosus required a complex treatment plan involving immunosuppressants to prevent the body from further damaging its own renal and cardiovascular systems.”
Examples
simple
“She was diagnosed with lupus after experiencing joint pain and fatigue.”
contextual
“Because lupus symptoms often mimic other illnesses, it can take doctors a long time to reach a definitive diagnosis.”
complex
“The patient's systemic lupus erythematosus required a complex treatment plan involving immunosuppressants to prevent the body from further damaging its own renal and cardiovascular systems.”
Usage
Often used in the full medical form 'systemic lupus erythematosus' in clinical contexts.
Real-World Examples
“More than 1,000 genetic switches behave differently in male and female immune cells, helping explain why women are much more vulnerable to autoimmune diseases such as lupus.” “Chadwick Boseman experienced significant weight loss while privately battling colon cancer, and Selena Gomez has spoken openly about how lupus and the medications she takes to treat it have affected her weight.” Etymology
From Latin lupus (“wolf”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/lupus