wart

noun

ˈwȯrt 

1

a

: a horny projection on the skin usually of the extremities produced by proliferation of the skin papillae and caused by any of numerous human papillomaviruses

called also verruca vulgaris

b

: any of numerous similar skin lesions not caused by viruses

2

: an excrescence or protuberance resembling a true wart

especially : a glandular excrescence or hardened protuberance on a plant

3

a

: one that suggests a wart especially in smallness, unpleasantness, or unattractiveness

b

: defect, imperfection

—often used in the phrase warts and all

warted

ˈwȯr-təd 

adjective

wartless

ˈwȯrt-ləs 

adjective

warty

ˈwȯr-tē 

adjective

Examples of wart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prominent among the worry warts is King Charles III of the United Kingdom, who felt the issue was sufficiently urgent to summon senior leaders of the fledgling AI industry to a summit at a Scottish castle. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Eddins says freshmen learn about the school’s history with all its warts in orientation, and the school’s website addresses it directly. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

The front office threw every asset imaginable at a defensive line capable of coming in waves and covering warts. — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Fallon has always been a champion of his home state, the warts and all. — Brendan Menapace, SPIN, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English wearte; akin to Old High German warza wart, Old Church Slavic vrědŭ injury

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wart

• genital wart

Rhymes for wart

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• fort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short

Kids Definition

wart

noun

ˈwȯ(ə)rt 

1

: a small hard growth on the skin often caused by a virus

2

: something that sticks out (as on a plant) and resembles a wart

warty

ˈwȯrt-ē 

adjective

Medical Definition

wart

noun

ˈwȯ(ə)rt 

1

: a horny projection on the skin usually of the extremities produced by proliferation of the skin papillae and caused by any of numerous genotypes of the human papillomavirus see flat wart, genital wart, plantar wart, verruca vulgaris

2

: any of numerous warty skin lesions not caused by human papillomaviruses