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

The 40-year-old said he is scheduled to undergo brain surgery in two weeks to remove the lesion and determine its exact nature. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

Biomimicked medical glue, inspired by the slime of a common garden slug (Arion subfuscus), can bond to bloody tissue and holds great promise for surgical applications and the treatment of painful lesions. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026

Laparoscopic excision surgery, in which a specialist carefully removes endometriosis lesions, is widely considered the gold-standard surgical treatment and can improve both pain and fertility outcomes. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026

The bacteria can multiply rapidly, leading to septic shock and blistering skin lesions. — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026

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