excoriation

[ik-skawr-ee-ey-shuhn, -skohr-]

noun

1. the act of excoriating.

2. the state of being excoriated.

3. an excoriated place on the body.

Word History and Origins

Origin of excoriation¹

1375–1425; late Middle English excoriacioun < Medieval Latin excoriātiōn- (stem of excoriātiō ). See excoriate, -ion

When To Use

What does excoriation mean?

Excoriation is the act or an instance of excoriating—harshly scolding, criticizing, denouncing, or expressing intense disapproval of someone or something.Excoriating someone often involves the severest possible tone and words.This sense of excoriate is based on its original, literal meaning: to strip off or remove the skin from an animal or person. The skin on your hands might be excoriated from hard yard work, for example. The word flay can be used as a synonym for both the figurative and literal sense of excoriate.Excoriation can also refer to the state of being excoriated.In a medical context, excoriation can refer to an instance of the skin being scratched, scraped, or otherwise caused to be rubbed off or removed. It can also refer to a part of the body where this has happened, as in The patient had a large excoriation on his back as a result of the accident. Example: Her public excoriation of her rival for his role in the scandal was severe and unyielding.