Meaning & use
medical stigmata
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Meanings
nounpluraltechnicalmedical
Physical signs or marks on the body that indicate a particular disease or condition.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; the singular form is 'stigma' but it is rare in this medical sense.
Patterns
- medical stigmata of a disease
- show medical stigmata
- medical stigmata associated with a condition
Doctors look for medical stigmata such as a rash or swelling when they examine a patient.
The report described several medical stigmata that pointed to a long-term liver problem.
Some genetic disorders produce medical stigmata that are visible from birth.
nounpluralreligion
In the plural of 'stigma', marks resembling wounds, especially on the hands and feet.
Grammar: This religious sense appears mainly in the plural 'stigmata'; the medical sense above is different.
Patterns
- receive the stigmata
- bear the stigmata
In Christian tradition, a few saints are said to have received the stigmata.
The painting shows a figure with the stigmata on his hands.
Common combinations
- medical stigmata of disease
- The chapter lists the medical stigmata of disease that nurses should recognize.
- show medical stigmata
- Patients may show medical stigmata before any other symptoms appear.
- visible medical stigmata
- Visible medical stigmata can help doctors make a quick diagnosis.
- the stigmata of a condition
- The stigmata of this condition include small spots around the eyes.
- physical stigmata
- Physical stigmata are examined during a full medical check-up.
Synonyms and how they differ
- signs
- 'Signs' is the everyday word for anything a doctor can observe; 'medical stigmata' is more technical and suggests marks that are characteristic of a disease.
- symptoms
- 'Symptoms' are what the patient feels, while 'medical stigmata' are marks or signs that others can see.
- markers
- 'Markers' often refers to test results rather than visible marks, so it fits laboratory findings better than physical stigmata.
Word family
- stigma noun
- The singular form; also means a strong feeling of disapproval in general English.
- stigmatize verb
- To treat someone unfairly because of a condition or characteristic.
Commonly confused: medical stigmata or stigma?
medical stigmata vs stigma
In everyday English 'stigma' means shame or disapproval attached to something, not a physical sign of illness; the medical plural 'stigmata' is a different, technical use.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'medical stigmata' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Medical stigmata' are physical signs a doctor observes, so option 0 fits. Option 1 confuses it with the everyday 'stigma' (shame), option 2 treats it as an award, and option 3 uses it as a singular countable object.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “medical stigmata”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.