psoriasis

noun

pso·​ri·​a·​sis sə-ˈrī-ə-səs How to pronounce psoriasis (audio)
: a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales
psoriatic adjective or noun

Examples of psoriasis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The biotechnology company's recent successful trials of its envudeucitinib drug for plaque psoriasis is adding to Oppenheimer analyst Jeff Jones' bullishness. Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026 For inflammatory diseases like psoriasis, the intensity of physical activity mattered more than the total amount. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 30 Mar. 2026 Bright-light therapy is standard care for seasonal affective disorder, and narrowband ultraviolet light remains a mainstay for psoriasis. Lynne Peeples, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026 Its current blockbuster is a drug called Bimzelx, which is used to treat autoimmune disorders including psoriasis and inflammatory arthritis. ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for psoriasis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek psōriasis, from psōrian to have the itch, from psōra itch; akin to Greek psēn to rub

First Known Use

circa 1684, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of psoriasis was circa 1684

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Psoriasis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psoriasis. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

psoriasis

noun
pso·​ri·​a·​sis sə-ˈrī-ə-səs How to pronounce psoriasis (audio)
: a skin disease characterized by red patches often covered with white scales

Medical Definition

psoriasis

noun
pso·​ri·​a·​sis sə-ˈrī-ə-səs How to pronounce psoriasis (audio)
plural psoriases -ˌsēz How to pronounce psoriasis (audio)
: a chronic skin disease characterized by circumscribed red patches covered with white scales

More from Merriam-Webster on psoriasis

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster