wheal

noun

ˈ(h)wēl 

: a suddenly formed elevation of the skin surface : welt

especially : a flat burning or itching eminence on the skin

Examples of wheal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These wheals often appear red or pink on light or medium skin tones. — Zia Sherrell, Health, 17 Feb. 2026

To pediatricians like Eby, the outbreaks meant every typically innocuous symptom in clinic — every cough or sniffle, every hive or wheal or welt — put him and his staff on high alert. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025

Redness, swelling and intensely itchy wheals – those are the hallmark symptoms of urticaria, commonly known as hives. — New Atlas, 17 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of wale entry 1

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wheal

• beal
• chiel
• ciel
• creel
• deal
• diel
• eel
• feel
• feil
• heal
• heel
• keel

Medical Definition

wheal

noun

ˈhwē(ə)l  ˈwē(ə)l 

: a suddenly formed elevation of the skin surface: as

a

: welt

especially : a flat burning or itching eminence on the skin

b

: the transient lump occurring at the site of injection of a solution before the solution is normally dispersed