carbuncle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Medical
Quick answer
What does “carbuncle” mean?
A red, painful cluster of boils under the skin.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A red, painful cluster of boils under the skin.
A red gemstone, especially a garnet cut en cabochon; also, a pustular skin infection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'carbuncle' is famously used in architectural criticism to describe an ugly modern building (esp. Prince Charles's usage). This metaphorical use is less common in US English.
Connotations
UK: Strong negative aesthetic judgment (building); Medical: equally negative. US: Primarily medical/literary.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects, slightly higher in UK due to architectural context.
Grammar
How to Use “carbuncle” in a Sentence
suffer from a ~have a ~ on [body part]describe [building] as a ~a ~ of [metaphorical evil]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “carbuncle” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- carbuncular (adj.) - a carbuncular growth
American English
- carbuncular (adj.) - a carbuncular infection
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical criticism of a project.
Academic
Medical/Historical contexts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Dermatology; Gemmology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “carbuncle”
- Confusing with 'carcinoma' (cancer).
- Misspelling as 'carbunkle'.
- Using in casual conversation where 'boil' is more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A carbuncle is a cluster of several boils connected under the skin, making it more severe than a single boil.
Historically, yes - it was a term for a red garnet gemstone. In modern use, it is almost exclusively negative.
Due to widespread media coverage of Prince Charles (now King Charles III) describing a proposed building extension as a 'carbuncle', embedding it in UK cultural vocabulary.
No, it is a low-frequency word. Learners are unlikely to encounter it outside medical, historical, or specific UK cultural contexts.
A red, painful cluster of boils under the skin.
Carbuncle is usually formal, literary, medical in register.
Carbuncle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.bʌŋ.kəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːr.bʌŋ.kəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[something] is a carbuncle on the face of [place]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CAR' + 'BUNK' + 'LE' - Imagine a car bunking into a red, swollen, painful lump on the skin.
Conceptual Metaphor
Ugliness/sickness is a carbuncle (a disfiguring growth).
Practice
Quiz
In a famous British context, what might be described as a 'carbuncle'?