lupus

¹ American  

[loo-puhs] / ˈlu pəs /

noun

Pathology.

1. lupus vulgaris.

2. systemic lupus erythematosus.

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Lupus ² American  

[loo-puhs] / ˈlu pəs /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Lupi

1. the Wolf, a southern constellation between Centaurus and Norma.

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lupus ¹ British  

/ ˈluːpəs /

noun

1. any of various ulcerative skin diseases

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Lupus ² British  

/ ˈluːpəs /

noun

1. a constellation in the S hemisphere lying between Centaurus and Ara

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lupus Scientific  

/ lo̅o̅′pəs /

1. See systemic lupus erythematosus

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lupus Cultural  

1. An autoimmune disease that tends to strike women more frequently than men. The disease attacks the body's connective tissues.

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Usage

In current usage the word lupus alone is generally understood to signify lupus vulgaris, lupus erythematosus being normally referred to in full or by the abbreviation LE

Other Word Forms

• lupous adjective

Etymology

Origin of lupus¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Medieval Latin, special use of Latin lupus “wolf”

Origin of Lupus²

From Latin

Example Sentences

The Choc Factory Co. makeup executive said she felt guilty that her daughter might also suffer from lupus, an autoimmune condition she was diagnosed with in childhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

In addition to MS, the virus has been linked to lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and long COVID.

From Science Daily • Feb. 6, 2026

Fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and joint pain can be caused by anemia, sleep disorders, mental illnesses, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, ALS, fibromyalgia, cancer, and many other conditions.

From Slate • Dec. 19, 2025

The argument over the restoration vs. eradication of canis lupus has raged here for years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 16, 2025

One could see that, for all the lupus and the purple eyes, she was uncommonly pretty.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley