What does psoriatic mean?
Psoriatic is an adjective describing something connected with psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, and it can also function as a noun for a person who has psoriasis. The adjective is especially common in medical terminology, as in psoriatic arthritis, psoriatic lesions, and psoriatic skin. In general use, the word tends to be technical or clinical rather than part of everyday conversation, while the noun sense is more informal and is sometimes used when discussing the experience of living with the condition. It is also related to the more general medical adjective psoriatic, which appears in discussions of symptoms, treatment, research, and complications. Understanding the distinction between psoriasis, the name of the condition, and psoriatic, the term describing those affected by it or related to it, helps prevent confusion.
Relating to or affected by psoriasis.
"Her dermatologist diagnosed psoriatic eczema on both elbows."
A person who has psoriasis.
"Each psoriatic was given information about the support group."
The plural is uncommon; it is used when referring to multiple people with psoriasis.
"The clinic provides specialized care for psoriatics with severe symptoms."
A word that names both the skin condition and the people living with it: psoriasis is the disease, and psoriatic describes those who have it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does psoriatic come from?
Psoriatic was formed in English from psoriasis and the combining form -atic, which relates it to similar medical and scientific adjectives. The source word psoriasis comes from Greek, in which psōriasis is a term associated with a scaly skin condition. The medical adjective developed as the terminology for describing psoriasis and its related symptoms, while later derivatives include psoriatiform and psoriatology.
Related word forms
How psoriatic is actually used
As an adjective, psoriatic is commonly used in medical and clinical contexts, especially in the phrases psoriatic arthritis and psoriatic skin. As a noun, it is less formal and is used mainly to refer to a person with psoriasis; the plural psoriatics is uncommon.
Easily confused with psoriatic
Psoriasis is the inflammatory skin condition itself, whereas psoriatic is an adjective describing something related to or affected by psoriasis, or a noun for someone who has it.