scabies

American  

[skey-beez, -bee-eez] / ˈskeɪ biz, -biˌiz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a contagious skin disease occurring especially in sheep and cattle and also in humans, caused by the itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the skin.

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scabies British  

/ ˈskeɪbiːz, -bɪˌiːz /

noun

1. a contagious skin infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, characterized by intense itching, inflammation, and the formation of vesicles and pustules

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Other Word Forms

• scabietic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of scabies

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin scabiēs “roughness, itch,” from scabere “to scratch, scrape”; see also shave

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scabies

Animal dewormer and a drug used to treat scabies are being sold and promoted as unproven cancer treatments, a BBC investigation has found.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Physicians for Human Rights Israel also found new outbreaks of scabies in five detention centers, according to a letter it sent to the prison service that was viewed by the Journal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The problems emerged after he developed a spine infection following repeated scabies exposures, according to a ruling to release him by an Israeli military court viewed by the Journal, and an accompanying doctor’s report.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

The symptoms of scabies are intense itching, especially at night, and a raised rash or spots that usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head and neck.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

We can never see the legs of the scabies mite, but we can tell from the fact that it moves that it must have legs or something similar.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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