What does pustulate mean?
Pustulate is a formal verb meaning to form or develop pustules, especially on the skin, and in some contexts to cause pustules to appear. A pustule is a small raised lesion containing pus, so the verb is associated with infection, inflammation, or a severe skin reaction. It appears in medical writing, historical accounts, and descriptions of skin disease. The word is more precise than simply saying that a rash worsens, while remaining broader than suppurate, which specifically emphasizes the production or discharge of pus. Pustulate is not normally used in casual conversation. Its vocabulary is somewhat dated or specialized, and many modern writers prefer expressions such as “develop pustules” or “become pustular.”
verbTo form or develop pustules, especially on the skin. In medical and historical contexts, it can also mean to cause pustules to form.
- To form or develop pustules, especially on the skin.
- To cause pustules to form on a body or affected area.
"The skin began to pustulate after the infection spread."
"The rash continued to pustulate across the patient's back."
"Historians described the infected wounds as beginning to pustulate within days."
The word comes from Latin pustula, meaning a small blister or pimple—a fitting root for a word that describes skin breaking out.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pustulate come from?
Pustulate derives from pustule, which comes from Latin pustula, meaning a small blister or pimple. The verb was formed by adding the suffix -ate to the noun. Related English forms include pustular and pustulation, while the Latin root also underlies the more specific verb suppurate.
Related word forms
How pustulate is actually used
Pustulate is a formal or medical verb. It is relatively uncommon in everyday speech, and in modern clinical writing the more specific term suppurate may be preferred when the formation or discharge of pus is being emphasized.
Easily confused with pustulate
A pustule is the small raised lesion or blister itself, whereas pustulate is the verb describing the formation of such lesions.
To suppurate specifically means to produce or discharge pus, while pustulate more generally means to develop pustules.