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

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

Symptoms of allergic reactions include redness, hives, wheals (a red or swollen elevation on the surface of skin that may be itchy), and shortness of breath. —Laura Schober, Health, 9 July 2025

You are considered positive if a wheal appears (bump similar to a mosquito bite).16 Blood tests involve providing a blood sample and measuring the amount of IgE antibody to a specific food.16 An oral food challenge may be used to confirm skin or blood test results. —Corinne Savides Happel, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2025

Why does a wheal develop after the monkeypox vaccine? —Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 26 Aug. 2022

The wheal was big enough that many allergists might have simply diagnosed it as a peanut allergy. —Alice Callahan, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2020

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