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

The warts that arose later in Harbaugh’s Baltimore tenure — failing to advance in the playoffs to make Super Bowl runs with MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson — are the type of problems the Giants could only dream of at this point. —Dan Duggan, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026

But most of these John Harbaugh-thirsty franchises have an ugly wart or two as well. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026

Many of the characters in Marty Supreme certainly come with their warts and all. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2025

Learning to love myself, warts and all, has been the hardest and most beautiful process. —Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025

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