vitiligo

noun

vit·​i·​li·​go ˌvi-tə-ˈlī-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce vitiligo (audio) -ˈlē- How to pronounce vitiligo (audio)
: a skin disorder manifested by smooth white spots on various parts of the body

Examples of vitiligo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Notably, the study suggested that almost 40 percent of adult vitiligo cases might be undiagnosed. Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 View 1 Images There could be new hope for people afflicted with the skin-discoloring disease, vitiligo. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 9 Feb. 2025 According to the doctor, stress can definitely be a culprit—but gray hair actually comes down to genetics as well as certain diseases like vitiligo, vitamin B12 deficiency, alopecia areata. Laura Solla, Vogue, 1 Jan. 2025 Another autoimmune condition, vitiligo, causes loss of skin pigment, which can show up as white or gray hair. Angela Haupt, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vitiligo

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, skin eruption

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vitiligo was circa 1842

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Cite this Entry

“Vitiligo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vitiligo. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

vitiligo

noun
vit·​i·​li·​go
ˌvit-ᵊl-ˈī-(ˌ)gō also -ˈē-
: a progressive skin disorder that is a form of leukoderma caused by the localized or generalized destruction of melanocytes and marked by sharply circumscribed white spots of skin

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