1
: any of several diseases characterized by skin lesions
especially
: systemic lupus erythematosus sense 2
2
Lupus astronomy
: a southern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Scorpius and Centaurus and that is represented by the figure of a wolf
Above Lupus lies Scorpius, one of the few constellations whose star pattern actually suggests the object that it is named for. In the myths, the scorpion was assigned by Artemis, the hunting goddess, to kill Orion, far across the sky.—
Don Moser
Don MoserExamples of lupus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s my biggest thing too, even with lupus, building community, because that foundation and community can be the catalyst that pushes a lot of this forward.
—Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2026
Even when symptoms feel manageable, lupus can continue to cause damage silently—particularly to the kidneys.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 2026
The 26-year-old, the youngest of Snoop Dogg’s four children and his only daughter, has immune system conditions including lupus, so her pregnancy was being closely monitored.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Modern treatments are helping patients with lupus manage their symptoms, which can vary greatly from patient to patient and impact multiple organs and bodily systems.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lupus
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2026
Even when symptoms feel manageable, lupus can continue to cause damage silently—particularly to the kidneys.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 21 Jan. 2026
The 26-year-old, the youngest of Snoop Dogg’s four children and his only daughter, has immune system conditions including lupus, so her pregnancy was being closely monitored.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
Modern treatments are helping patients with lupus manage their symptoms, which can vary greatly from patient to patient and impact multiple organs and bodily systems.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lupus
Cite this Entry
“Lupus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lupus. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
lupus
noun
lu·pus
ˈlü-pəs 
: any of several diseases (as lupus vulgaris or systemic lupus erythematosus) characterized by skin lesions
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
