eczema
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of eczema
First recorded in 1745–55; from New Latin, from Greek ékzema, from ek- ec- + ze- (stem of zeîn “to boil, ferment”) + -ma, noun suffix
Explanation
Eczema refers to several skin conditions in which the skin is inflamed and usually itchy. If your skin is red, sore, itchy, or starting to discharge pus, you might have eczema: a condition of the skin that's not very pleasant. This isn't a single disease, but can refer to any skin condition that's not contagious and involves inflammation or the formation of pustules. Eczema isn't a dangerous condition, but it doesn't look or feel good. If you have eczema, a dermatologist — a doctor who specializes in the skin — can help.
Vocabulary lists containing eczema
Long Way Down
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The List of Things That Will Not Change
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Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
About 16 million adults and 10 million children in the U.S. have atopic dermatitis, which is a form of eczema, according to the National Eczema Association.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 20, 2026
Andrew Proctor, chief executive of the National Eczema Society, says: "We don't understand why people with eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions are being treated as second-class citizens by the NHS."
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disease that causes dry, itchy skin.
From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2024
That video, featuring a lotion by the brand the Ocean Healed My Eczema, has 3.6 million views.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2023
Eczema, ek′ze-ma, n. a common skin disease, in which the affected portion of the skin is red, and is covered with numerous small papules, which speedily turn into vesicles.—adj.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
