gangrene

noun

gan·​grene ˈgaŋ-ˌgrēn  gaŋ-ˈgrēn 

ˈgan-ˌgrēn, 

gan-ˈgrēn

1

: local death of soft tissues due to loss of blood supply

2

: pervasive decay or corruption : rot

moral gangrene

gangrenous

ˈgaŋ-grə-nəs 

adjective

Examples of gangrene in a Sentence

When gangrene set in, the soldier's leg had to be amputated.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are also life-threatening possibilities such as bleeding, blood clots or ischemia, which can end up with tissue in your scrotum dying and gangrene. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 May 2026

As her career later stalled, Bleeth’s personal life was spinning out due to cocaine abuse that resulted in gangrene in her nose. —Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026

Bacterial meningitis can progress quickly, causing the brain to swell and limbs to develop gangrene and sepsis, and can kill within 24 hours. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 11 Jan. 2026

The researchers made their conclusion after discovering fungal material rather than the bacterial agents in gangrene in a piece of Louis XIV's heart, which is stored in the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Paris. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin gangraena, gangrēna, borrowed from Greek gángraina, apparently derivative (with -aina, as in phagédaina "cancerous sore") of a base gangr-, of uncertain meaning and origin; replacing earlier and Middle English cancrene, borrowed from Medieval Latin cancrēna, blend of gangrēna and cancer cancer

Note: The supposed connection between gángraina and the verb gráō, grân "devour" (dissimilated from reduplicated *gar-gr-?) is derivationally not very plausible; as with other words formed with the suffix -aina, gángraina may be of pre-Greek origin.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gangrene

• gas gangrene

Kids Definition

gangrene

1 of 2 noun

gan·​grene ˈgaŋ-ˌgrēn 

ˈgan-;

gaŋ-ˈgrēn, 

gan-

: the death of soft tissues in a local area of the body due to loss of the blood supply

gangrenous

ˈgaŋgrə-nəs 

adjective

gangrene

2 of 2 verb

gangrened; gangrening

: to make or become diseased with gangrene

Medical Definition

gangrene

1 of 2 noun

gan·​grene ˈgaŋ-ˌgrēn  gaŋ-ˈ 

ˈgan-ˌ, 

gan-ˈ

: local death of soft tissues due to loss of blood supply

gangrene

2 of 2 verb

gangrened; gangrening

transitive verb

: to make gangrenous

intransitive verb

: to become gangrenous