adjective
purulent
PYOOR-uh-lent
Purulent (adjective) means Containing, made of, or discharging pus. Example: “The nurse cleaned the purulent wound and covered it with a fresh bandage.”
adjective
1
medicine Containing, made of, or discharging pus.
"The nurse cleaned the purulent wound and covered it with a fresh bandage."
"The doctor noted a purulent discharge from the infected eye."
"A purulent infection often needs antibiotics."
Examples of purulent in a sentence →
How to use purulent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFull of pus or leaking pus.
When to use it
It is a medical term, formal and clinical in tone.
Memory tip
Do not mix it up with prurient, which is about excessive interest in sexual matters and has nothing to do with pus.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
prurient
Common pairings
purulent discharge
purulent drainage
a purulent wound
purulent infection
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The nurse cleaned the _____ wound and covered it with a fresh bandage.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from Middle French purulent. The French word came from Latin pūrulentus, which was formed from pūs, meaning pus.
Synonyms
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puriform
Rhymes for purulent
See all rhymes for purulent →Frequently asked questions
What does purulent mean?
Purulent means containing, made of, or discharging pus. Doctors use it to describe infected wounds and fluids.
What does purulent drainage mean?
Purulent drainage is fluid that contains pus, which is often a sign of infection. A doctor should evaluate it.
How do you pronounce purulent?
In American English it is commonly pronounced PYOOR-uh-lent, with the stress on the first syllable.
What is the meaning of purulent?
"purulent" (adjective) means containing, made of, or discharging pus.
