scabies

American  

[skay-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.

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scabies British  

/ ˈskeɪbiːz, -bɪˌiːz /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• scabietic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of scabies

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scabies

Kate also contracted scabies from Paul and described it as "dreadful".

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Kate, from Cwrt Newydd in Ceredigion, said Paul also had pneumonia, but the crusted scabies meant his immune system "had weakened".

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

After Paul's death, Kate wrote to the health board to complain about how long it took to diagnose him with scabies.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Animal dewormer and a drug used to treat scabies are being sold and promoted as unproven cancer treatments, a BBC investigation has found.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

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

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