: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and a bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes
plural -es
: the quality or state of being scurvy
Examples of scurvy in a Sentence
Adjective
after winning the lottery, she was beset by a whole scurvy swarm of con artists, ne'er-do-wells, and hangers-on
Recent Examples on the Web
Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Other Health Risks to Know About A restrictive diet also puts you at risk of issues such as scurvy, constipation, and essential fatty acid deficiency, according to James Daniel John, MS, RD, a clinical dietitian at Loyola Medicine.
—Gillian Mohney, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2026
Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 18 July 2025
In the 10th century, Italy’s famed medical school in Salerno discovered that citrus could be the solution to the dreaded nautical affliction scurvy.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025
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Noun
Disease—scurvy, typhoid, dysentery—was rampant among prisoners, but medical treatment was worse than inadequate.
—Drew Gilpin Faust, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
Other Health Risks to Know About A restrictive diet also puts you at risk of issues such as scurvy, constipation, and essential fatty acid deficiency, according to James Daniel John, MS, RD, a clinical dietitian at Loyola Medicine.
—Gillian Mohney, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
In rare cases, extreme deficiency for many weeks may lead to a fatal condition, called scurvy.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 18 July 2025
In the 10th century, Italy’s famed medical school in Salerno discovered that citrus could be the solution to the dreaded nautical affliction scurvy.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scurvy
Cite this Entry
“Scurvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scurvy. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scurvy
1 of 2 noun
scur·vy
ˈskər-vē 
: a disease caused by lack of vitamin C and characterized by loosening of the teeth, softening of the gums, and bleeding under the skin
Medical Definition
scurvy
noun
scur·vy
ˈskər-vē
plural scurvies
: a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C and characterized by spongy gums, loosening of the teeth, and bleeding into the skin and mucous membranes
called also scorbutus
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