syphilis
noun
syph·i·lis ˈsi-f(ə-)ləs 
: a chronic contagious usually venereal and often congenital disease caused by a spirochete (Treponema pallidum) and if left untreated producing chancres, rashes, and systemic lesions in a clinical course with three stages continued over many years compare primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, tertiary syphilis
syphilitic
ˌsi-fə-ˈli-tik
adjective or noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The increases in syphilis and other STDs may have several causes, experts say. 
Mike Stobbe, ajc, 19 Sep. 2022 Monkeypox rashes can be hard to distinguish from other more common infections, such as syphilis. Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2022 DoxyPEP also appeared to protect against syphilis, but too few cases occurred during the trial to reach statistical significance. Julie Washington, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Regarding syphilis, however, that intellectual framework now appears outdated. Marylynn Salmon, The Conversation, 13 July 2022 Since late-stage syphilis attacked the nose, those so afflicted were seen as bearing proof of moral turpitude. Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2022 In 1913, scientists made a major discovery, identifying Treponema pallidum, the spirochete bacterium causing syphilis, in the brains of those who had perished from GPI. Richard J. Mcnally, WSJ, 13 May 2022 Gray, 91, built his legendary career at the forefront of battles to end segregation, representing Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, the victims of the Tuskegee syphilis study, and the NAACP, among many others. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 1 July 2022 Syphilis: The rash of syphilis can mimic monkeypox. Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, ABC News, 25 July 2022 See More
Mike Stobbe, ajc, 19 Sep. 2022 Monkeypox rashes can be hard to distinguish from other more common infections, such as syphilis. Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2022 DoxyPEP also appeared to protect against syphilis, but too few cases occurred during the trial to reach statistical significance. Julie Washington, cleveland, 9 Aug. 2022 Regarding syphilis, however, that intellectual framework now appears outdated. Marylynn Salmon, The Conversation, 13 July 2022 Since late-stage syphilis attacked the nose, those so afflicted were seen as bearing proof of moral turpitude. Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2022 In 1913, scientists made a major discovery, identifying Treponema pallidum, the spirochete bacterium causing syphilis, in the brains of those who had perished from GPI. Richard J. Mcnally, WSJ, 13 May 2022 Gray, 91, built his legendary career at the forefront of battles to end segregation, representing Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, the victims of the Tuskegee syphilis study, and the NAACP, among many others. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 1 July 2022 Syphilis: The rash of syphilis can mimic monkeypox. Dr. Mark Abdelmalek, ABC News, 25 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Syphilus, hero of the poem Syphilis sive Morbus Gallicus (Syphilis or the French disease) (1530) by Girolamo Fracastoro †1553 Italian poet and physician
First Known Use
1653, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing syphilis
Medical Definition
syphilis
noun
syph·i·lis ˈsif-(ə-)ləs
: a chronic contagious usually venereal and often congenital disease that is caused by a spirochete of the genus Treponema (T. pallidum) and if left untreated produces chancres, rashes, and systemic lesions in a clinical course with three stages continued over many years
called also lues
see primary syphilis, secondary syphilis, tertiary syphilis