abrasion

noun

abra·​sion ə-ˈbrā-zhən 

1

a

: a wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction

b

: irritation

2

: an abraded area of the skin or mucous membrane

Synonyms of abrasion

• bruise

Examples of abrasion in a Sentence

abrasion of rocks by wind and water

walked away from the auto accident with only minor abrasions

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, its leaves, fruits, and roots are all highly toxic whether eaten or just brushed up against if there's an open wound or abrasion. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026

The cop suffered a corneal abrasion, burning and redness to her eyes and pain to her face and head, according to the complaint. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026

Plus, baking soda provides gentle abrasion, and peroxide can even help kill mold. —Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026

What Peter and his team do is take the negative and take the abrasions out of it and reproduce it at its highest quality. —Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 22 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin abrāsiōn-, abrāsiō, from Latin abrādere "to scrape off" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns — more at abrade

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for abrasion

• caucasian
• equation
• eurasian
• evasion
• invasion
• occasion
• persuasion
• asian
• suasion
• athanasian

Kids Definition

abrasion

noun

abra·​sion ə-ˈbrā-zhən 

1

: a rubbing, grinding, or wearing away by friction

2

: a place where the surface has been rubbed or scraped off

an abrasion on her knee

Medical Definition

abrasion

noun

abra·​sion ə-ˈbrā-zhən 

1

: wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction

2

a

: the rubbing or scraping of the surface layer of cells or tissue from an area of the skin or mucous membrane

also : a place so abraded

b

: the mechanical wearing away of the tooth surfaces by chewing