lesion

noun

le·​sion ˈlē-zhən 

1

: injury, harm

2

: an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due to injury or disease

especially : one that is circumscribed (see circumscribe sense 1) and well defined

lesioned

ˈlē-zhənd 

adjective

Examples of lesion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This characteristic texture helped researchers differentiate the lesions caused by osteomyelitis from those caused by other bone pathologies, like osteosarcoma and bone neoplasia (two forms of bone cancer). —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025

In February 2023, while still in office, Biden had a cancerous skin lesion removed from his chest. —Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025

Joe Biden recently underwent surgery to remove skin cancer lesions, a spokesperson said Thursday, the latest health challenge for the former president. —Chris Megerian, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025

More research is needed in other groups and using other tools, Suemoto said, such as neuroimaging to see whether specific brain lesions are linked to sweetener use. —Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin laesion-, laesio, from laedere to injure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lesion

• friesian
• adhesion
• artesian
• cartesian
• cohesion
• elysian
• magnesian
• austronesian
• indonesian
• melanesian
• micronesian
• polynesian

Kids Definition

lesion

noun

le·​sion ˈlē-zhən 

: a change in the structure of a bodily organ or part due to injury or disease

especially : an injured or diseased spot or area clearly marked off from healthy tissue around it

Medical Definition

lesion

1 of 2 noun

le·​sion ˈlē-zhən 

: an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due to injury or disease

especially : one that is circumscribed and well defined

lesioned

-zhənd 

adjective

lesion

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to produce lesions in (as an animal's brain)

Legal Definition

lesion

noun

le·​sion ˈlē-zhən 

in the civil law of Louisiana : loss from failure to receive a threshold amount or value (as one-half market value) for immovable property conveyed or transferred by a commutative contract (as a sale or exchange)

called also lesion beyond moiety

compare unjust enrichment

Etymology

Anglo-French, damage, injury, from Latin laesio, from laedere to injure