Meaning & use
lunger
A dated and often disparaging informal term for a person suffering from a lung disease, especially tuberculosis.
See it in a sentence
In old western films, a 'lunger' character often traveled west hoping the dry air would help.
The historical account described the sanatorium as a refuge for lungers seeking a cure.
A note on using this word
Lunger is old-fashioned American slang and can sound insensitive today; 'tuberculosis patient' is the neutral modern equivalent.
Words with a similar meaning
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