Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

scabies

American  
[skey-beez, -bee-eez] / ˈskeɪ biz, -biˌiz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

  1. a contagious skin disease occurring especially in sheep and cattle and also in humans, caused by the itch mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows under the skin.

scabies British  
/ -bɪˌiːz, ˌskeɪbɪˈɛtɪk, ˈskeɪbiːz /

noun

  1. a contagious skin infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, characterized by intense itching, inflammation, and the formation of vesicles and pustules

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • scabietic adjective

Etymology

Origin of scabies

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin scabiēs “roughness, itch,” from scabere “to scratch, scrape”; see also shave

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.

A woman who had scabies has described the experience as a "nightmare" as figures show a rise in reported cases of the parasitic infestation.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

She said the "majority of people" could get rid of scabies with topical over-the-counter treatment.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

Unlike bed bugs, scabies mites are naked to the human eye, and are not caused by poor hygiene.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

They reported that he lost a significant portion of his weight and was suffering from scabies, but that the Israel Prison Service had provided treatment.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

We can never see the legs of the scabies mite, but we can tell from the fact that it moves that it must have legs or something similar.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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.