leukoplakia

or leu·co·pla·ki·a

[ loo-kuh-pley-kee-uh ]

noun

, Pathology.

1. a disorder of a mucous membrane characterized by one or more white patches, occurring most commonly on the cheek, tongue, vulva, or penis: often medically insignificant but sometimes becoming malignant.

Word History and Origins

Origin of leukoplakia¹

1880–85; < New Latin, equivalent to Greek leuko- leuko- + plak-, stem of pláx flat surface, taken as “tongue” + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

Lula, 77, had small white patches called "leukoplakia" removed from his larynx last month, after beating President Jair Bolsonaro in an Oct.

From Reuters

Doctors at Sao Paulo's Sirio Libanes Hospital, where the 77-year-old Lula was treated for throat cancer 11 years ago, said the procedure had removed small white patches called 'leukoplakia' from his vocal cords.

From Reuters

Leukoplakia, also called 'smokers keratosis', can be caused by repeated injury and irritation or exposure to smoking and alcohol.

From Reuters

An exam of my tongue revealed a small white spot or “leukoplakia” on the side of my tongue that I had neither seen nor felt.

From Washington Post

He discovered leukoplakia, a typically benign condition characterized by white patches, in Weller’s larynx.

From Washington Post