ulcer

American  

[uhl-ser] / ˈʌl sər /

noun

• ulcers
  plural

1. Pathology. a sore on the skin or a mucous membrane, accompanied by the disintegration of tissue, the formation of pus, etc.

2. peptic ulcer.

3. any chronically corrupting or disrupting condition, element, etc.

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ulcer British  

/ ˈʌlsə /

noun

1. a disintegration of the surface of the skin or a mucous membrane resulting in an open sore that heals very slowly See also peptic ulcer

2. a source or element of corruption or evil

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ulcer Scientific  

/ ŭl′sər /

1. A break in the skin or a mucous membrane, such as the one lining the stomach or duodenum, accompanied by inflammation, pus, and loss of tissue.

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ulcer Cultural  

1. An inflamed open sore on the skin or mucous membrane. An ulcer may form in the inner lining of the stomach or duodenum, interfere with digestion, and cause considerable pain.

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Usage

What does ulcer mean? An ulcer is a sore on the skin or on a mucous membrane, such as the lining of your stomach. If left untreated, ulcers can result in serious health problems, such as inflammation or death of tissues. Ulcers in the stomach are fairly common in Western countries. They are generally easy to treat but can become serious if not treated. Example: The doctor discovered that an ulcer was causing my stomach pain.

Discover More

It used to be thought that stress was the cause of stomach and duodenal ulcers, but we now know that they are caused by bacteria and can be cured by antibiotics.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antiulcer
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• ulcers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of ulcer

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin ulcer-, stem of ulcus; akin to Greek hélkos, perhaps also to Old Norse illr ( see ill ( def. ))

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Compare meaning

How does ulcer compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• canker sore vs. ulcer

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Explanation

A canker sore is a common form of ulcer or open sore. An ulcer can be on an external surface like the mouth or an internal surface, like the stomach. They are caused by a break in skin or mucus membrane that won't heal. Ulcer comes from the Greek elkos meaning "wound." An ulcer is a wound or lesion that is inflamed and painful. Ulcers are commonly found in the stomach where they are called peptic ulcers. They are caused by a bacteria in the intestinal tract or an overuse of drugs that disturbs the lining of the digestive tract. An ulcer is very acidic and painful. I hope you don't get one.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ulcer ulcers

If, say, you’ve had a stomach ulcer, the bot would recommend a painkiller that’s easy on the gut.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

While misoprostol, which is commonly prescribed for ulcer prevention, can be used alone for abortions, it is less effective and less safe than when it’s used in combination with mifepristone.

From Salon ● Feb. 9, 2026

Over a lifetime, as many as one in three people with diabetes may experience a foot ulcer.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 20, 2026

The fight, initially scheduled for July, was postponed in May on medical advice after Tyson suffered from a stomach ulcer flare-up which he has now revealed was more serious than it first appeared.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2024

He had enough problems with the empty restaurant, a lazy son, and his nagging ulcer; now he had to put up with this bigot.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

I’ve written about the heart attacks, ulcers and other health risks that can accompany life in the C-suite.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Manganiello detailed debilitating abdominal pain, fevers, rashes, headaches, fatigue and ulcers in his digestive tract that caused bleeding and led to countless colonoscopies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

In some animals, infection has been connected with low energy, loss of appetite, regurgitation, stomach ulcers and inflammation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026

Cutaneous diphtheria usually causes infected sores or ulcers on exposed parts of the body which are slow to heal but rarely lead to severe illness.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

More precisely, ulcers existed, people had them, but they weren’t called “ulcers.”

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman

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Related Words

• abscess
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