1
: a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin or bark
2
: a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in healing
3
: soft tissue that forms over a wounded or cut plant surface
callused; callusing; calluses
: to form callus
: to cause callus to form on
Examples of callus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
On a plant, callus prevents dehydration of the cutting so that, after it is inserted into the soil or rooting medium, roots can grow.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Move the plate to a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight for a few days so the leaves can callus over.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callus
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Noun
Shoes in this collection feature the brand’s proprietary ProjectPlush support system, which is basically just a footbed that contours to the natural curvature of the feet, helping to distribute weight evenly and alleviate pressure points that could lead to soreness, calluses, and blisters.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
On a plant, callus prevents dehydration of the cutting so that, after it is inserted into the soil or rooting medium, roots can grow.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
Snail mucin, the thick and slimy secretion produced by the invertebrates, emerged in skin care back in the late ’80s and ’90s as treatments for warts, acnes and even calluses on the body.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 1 July 2025
Move the plate to a warm, dry spot out of direct sunlight for a few days so the leaves can callus over.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for callus
Cite this Entry
“Callus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/callus. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
callus
1 of 2 noun
cal·lus
ˈkal-əs 
plural calluses
1
: a hard thickened area on skin or bark
2
: a mass of tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is changed into bone in the healing of the break
3
: tissue that forms over an injured plant surface
callus
2 of 2 verb
: to form callus
Medical Definition
callus
noun
cal·lus
ˈkal-əs
1
: a thickening of or a hard thickened area on skin
2
: a mass of exudate and connective tissue that forms around a break in a bone and is converted into bone in the healing of the break
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