# rash

/ˈɹæʃ/ (US) · /ɹˈæʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rash
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. skin irritation

noun · CEFR B2

a red, itchy, or painful area on your skin, often caused by an allergy or illness.

For teachers: an area of inflamed or irritated skin, typically characterised by redness, spots, or small bumps.

- He developed a red rash on his arm after walking through the tall grass.
- The patient presented with a persistent maculopapular rash across the torso, suggesting a possible allergic reaction to the newly prescribed antibiotic.

### 3. acting too quickly

adjective · CEFR B2

doing something too fast without thinking about the danger or the results.

For teachers: acting or done without due consideration of the consequences; impulsive or reckless.

- Don't make any rash decisions about quitting your job until you have a new one.
- The CEO's rash comments during the press conference caused the company's stock price to plummet within minutes of the broadcast.

## Examples

- I have a red rash on my arm from the soap.
- The doctor examined the itchy rash on the child's chest to determine if it was chickenpox or a heat reaction.
- While most skin irritations are temporary, a persistent rash accompanied by a high fever requires immediate medical attention to rule out more serious systemic infections.

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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.