purpura

American  

[pur-pyoor-uh] / ˈpɜr pyʊər ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. a disease characterized by purple or brownish-red spots on the skin or mucous membranes, caused by the extravasation of blood.

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purpura British  

/ ˈpɜːpjʊrə /

noun

1. pathol any of several blood diseases causing purplish spots or patches on the skin due to subcutaneous bleeding

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Other Word Forms

• purpuric adjective

Etymology

Origin of purpura

1680–90; < New Latin, special use of Latin purpura. See purple

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Cablivi addresses a rare blood clotting disorder, acquired or immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, Sanofi said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 11, 2025

There are many different types of vasculitis that go by different names, including Behcet's disease, Henoch-Schonlein purpura, Churg-Strauss syndrome, Buerger's disease, Cryoglobulinemia, Takayasu's arteritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Kawasaki disease and giant cell arteritis.

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2022

These ailments include myocarditis, neuromyelitis optica, primary membranous nephropathy and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

From Scientific American • Sep. 8, 2021

The patient who died in Puerto Rico had a very rare complication called immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

From MSNBC • Apr. 29, 2016

Variously-sized, shaped and tinted spots and discolorations, without elevation or depression; as, for example, freckles, spots of purpura, macules of cutaneous syphilis.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Stelwagon, Henry Weightman