Meaning & use
smegma
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablemedicaltechnical
A whitish, oily substance made of skin oils and dead cells that collects in folds of skin around the genitals.
Grammar: Used without an article: smegma can build up.
Patterns
- smegma builds up
- remove smegma
Doctors explain that smegma is normal and can be washed away with gentle cleaning.
Poor hygiene can allow smegma to build up and cause irritation.
Health leaflets for teenagers often mention smegma and how to keep clean.
Common combinations
- build-up of smegma
- A build-up of smegma can lead to soreness.
- remove smegma
- Gentle washing helps remove smegma.
- smegma under the foreskin
- The nurse explained smegma under the foreskin is natural.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sebum
- Sebum is the oily skin secretion in general, and smegma is the mix of oils and cells in a specific area.
Word family
- smegmatic adjective
- relating to smegma
- sebaceous adjective
- relating to oil glands
Commonly confused: smegma or sebum?
smegma vs sebum
Sebum is an oily skin substance found all over the body, and smegma is a specific build-up in the genital area.
Practice
A medical leaflet about hygiene might say that regular washing prevents a build-up of ___.
Choose one answer.
Smegma is the substance that builds up in skin folds. Sediment, segment and enigma are unrelated words.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “smegma”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.