abscess

American  

[ab-ses] / ˈæb sɛs /

noun

Pathology.

• abscesses
  plural

1. a localized collection of pus in the tissues of the body, often accompanied by swelling and inflammation and frequently caused by bacteria.

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abscess British  

/ ˈæbsɛs, -sɪs /

noun

1. a localized collection of pus formed as the product of inflammation and usually caused by bacteria

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verb

1. (intr) to form such a collection of pus

abscess Scientific  

/ ăb′sĕs′ /

1. A localized collection of pus surrounded by infected tissue.

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abscess Cultural  

1. An inflamed area (see inflammation) in the body tissues that is filled with pus.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• abscessed
  adjective
• unabscessed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• abscesses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of abscess

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin abscessus “departure,” noun use of past participle of abscēdere “to go away, separate off, form an abscess,” from abs- abs- + cēdere “to go, yield” ( see cede)

Explanation

An abscess is a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue. An abscess in a tooth is very painful and is often drained in a process called a root canal. In the presence of bacteria or parasites, infected tissue will sometimes form a cavity where pus collects. This is an abscess, and it's one of the ways our body surrounds an infection and walls it off in an attempt to prevent it from spreading. An abscess can develop anywhere on the body: teeth, brain, tonsils, lungs, etc. An abscess on the skin is also called a boil.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

abscess abscesses

Alas, we’ll never know what Leni might have achieved as talking pictures staked their claim, for a tooth abscess went septic and killed him at age 44 in 1929.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2025

After being removed from the NL Division Series roster with an abscess on his backside that became infected, former closer Tanner Scott said he feels healthy enough to pitch in the World Series.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025

You didn’t die of a tooth abscess that turned into sepsis.

From Slate ● Nov. 21, 2024

Fetid breath can be a sign of illness or infection, but the cause could have been anything from a tooth abscess to a life-threatening case of pneumonia.

From New York Times ● Dec. 26, 2023

Fourteen days after the accident, Phineas develops a huge abscess under the skin just above his eyes.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

He said he was taking medication for abscesses in his wisdom teeth when he woke up with "a really strange feeling" in his chest.

From BBC ● May 29, 2024

Perianal fistulae, abnormal connections between the anal canal and perianal skin, are a common complication of Crohn's disease that often result in painful abscesses and impact patients' quality of life.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2024

Penicillin antibiotics, which kill bacteria by preventing them from building a cell wall, are used to treat various illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, skin infections and dental abscesses.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 5, 2023

The elephant was reported to be underweight, have rough skin and abscesses on both hips, thinning foot pads, and a stiff left foreleg, making it difficult for him to walk and stand.

From Washington Times ● Jul. 2, 2023

A shiny, bright red rash, called St. Anthony’s fire, covered his swollen leg, and pus-filled abscesses protruded beneath the skin.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• ulcer