pus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowclinical, medical, informal (when discussing injuries/illness)
Quick answer
What does “pus” mean?
A thick, yellowish or greenish opaque liquid produced in infected tissue, consisting of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and tissue debris.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, yellowish or greenish opaque liquid produced in infected tissue, consisting of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and tissue debris.
Metaphorically used to denote something corrupt, foul, or morally repugnant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are identical.
Connotations
Equally unpleasant and medical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse, common in medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “pus” in a Sentence
The wound VERB pus (e.g., oozed, discharged, secreted).There was pus PREP the injury (e.g., in, coming from).Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and healthcare texts.
Everyday
Used when describing a bad wound, boil, or abscess in non-technical terms.
Technical
Core term in pathology, dermatology, and general medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pus”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pus”
- Using as a countable noun (*'two puses'). It is uncountable.
- Misspelling as 'puss' (which means a cat).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a standard clinical term used in medicine and healthcare, though it is also understandable in everyday language.
No. The related verb for the process of forming pus is 'suppurate'.
'Pus' is the infected fluid. 'Puss' (pronounced /pʊs/) is an informal, often affectionate, term for a cat.
No, 'pus' is an uncountable (mass) noun. You cannot have 'a pus' or 'two puses'. Instead, use phrases like 'some pus', 'a drop of pus', or 'an amount of pus'.
A thick, yellowish or greenish opaque liquid produced in infected tissue, consisting of dead white blood cells, bacteria, and tissue debris.
Pus: in British English it is pronounced /pʌs/, and in American English it is pronounced /pʌs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Where there's pus, there's infection.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PUS-filled blister that makes you say "P-U!" (an exclamation for something smelly).
Conceptual Metaphor
CORRUPTION IS PUS (e.g., 'the pus of scandal infected the whole administration').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary constituent of pus?