gangrene

1 of 2

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

gangrene

2 of 2

verb

gangrened; gangrening

transitive verb

: to make gangrenous

intransitive verb

: to become gangrenous

Examples of gangrene in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her right foot, noticeably smaller than her left, required reconstruction after developing gangrene from being held above her head for the duration of her time in the well. —Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 16 Oct. 2025

One of the more serious symptoms of diabetes is foot ulcers, which can go largely unnoticed, turn into a blister, and develop into gangrene or sepsis before requiring an amputation. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Sep. 2025

Verb

With this disease, narrow arteries prevent the legs and arms from receiving enough blood flow, causing chronic pain, wounds that don’t heal, and even gangrene. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 22 Mar. 2024

Infection set in, progressed to gangrene, and Daniels died from sepsis or blood poisoning. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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.

Verb

derivative of gangrene entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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