Hansen's disease
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of Hansen's disease
1935–40; named after G. H. Hansen (1841–1912), Norwegian physician and discoverer of leprosy-causing Mycobacterium leprae
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.
“He showed genuine concern for those of us who experienced Hansen’s disease, as well as our families.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025
More than 8,000 people, mostly Native Hawaiians, perished at Kalaupapa, including Damien, who eventually contracted leprosy, later called Hansen’s disease.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023
In fact, leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is extremely rare in the United States.
From Slate • Aug. 15, 2023
Its weather-worn headstones were a reminder of how, in the not-too-distant past, Hansen’s disease was a death sentence.
From Salon • Aug. 9, 2023
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2023
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.
