# ulcer

/ˈəɫsɝ/ (US) · /ˈʌlsɐ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ulcer
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a painful, open sore on the skin or inside the body that is slow to heal. You often hear about them in the stomach or on the mouth.

For teachers: an open sore on an external or internal surface of the body, caused by a break in the skin or mucous membrane that fails to heal. Often associated with infection, inflammation, or underlying systemic conditions.

## Examples

- He had a painful ulcer on his tongue.
- The doctor explained that stress was not the primary cause of his stomach ulcer, but it certainly made the symptoms worse.
- Chronic venous insufficiency can lead to the development of a leg ulcer, which requires specialized wound care and compression therapy to facilitate proper healing of the tissue.

## Usage notes

- Commonly modified by its location, such as 'stomach', 'mouth', or 'peptic'.

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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.