hemorrhoid

noun

hem·​or·​rhoid ˈhem-ˌrȯid  ˈhe-mə- 

: an abnormal mass of dilated and engorged blood vessels in swollen tissue that occurs internally in the anal canal or externally around the anus, that may be marked by bleeding, pain, or itching, and that when occurring internally often protrude through the outer sphincter of the anus and when occurring externally may lead to thrombosis

—usually used in plural

called also piles

Examples of hemorrhoid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And sitting on the toilet for prolonged periods has long been known to raise your risk of hemorrhoids because of some basic physics. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 5 Sep. 2025

The researchers then conducted endoscopies to look for the presence of hemorrhoids inside each subject, and 43% of the participants had hemorrhoids visualized. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025

There are different kinds of hemorrhoids. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Those who used smartphones on the toilet were 46% more likely to have hemorrhoids, according to a study in PLOS one. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English emeroides, plural, from Anglo-French emorroides, from Latin haemorrhoidae, from Greek haimorrhoides, from haimorrhoos flowing with blood, from haimo- hem- + rhein to flow — more at stream

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hemorrhoid

• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid
• amyloid
• aneroid
• anthropoid
• arachnoid
• asteroid
• benzenoid
• carcinoid
• celluloid
• coronoid

Kids Definition

hemorrhoid

noun

hem·​or·​rhoid ˈhem-(ə-)ˌrȯid 

1

: a swollen mass of veins located at or just within the anus

2

plural : the condition of a person who has hemorrhoids

called also piles

Medical Definition

hemorrhoid

noun

hem·​or·​rhoid

variants or chiefly British haemorrhoid

ˈhem-(ə-)ˌrȯid 

: an abnormal mass of dilated and engorged blood vessels in swollen tissue that occurs internally in the anal canal or externally around the anus, that may be marked by bleeding, pain, or itching, and that when occurring internally often protrude through the external anal sphincter and when occurring externally may lead to thrombosis

—usually used in plural

called also piles