Leper - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A leper is a person affected by leprosy, a chronic infectious disease causing skin lesions and nerve damage. Historically, lepers were often isolated due to fear of contagion and stigma.
Definition:
A person affected by leprosy or someone shunned for moral or social reasons.
Synonyms:
outcast, pariah, untouchable
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
insider, favorite, beloved
Common Collocations:
social leper, treat like a leper, leper colony
Derivatives:
leprosy, leprous
Usage Tips:
Use "leper" carefully due to its historical stigma; prefer "person with leprosy" in medical contexts.
Common Phrases:
treat like a leper, social leper, leper colony
Etymology:
From Greek "lepra" (scaly disease), via Latin "leprosus."
Examples:
- 1. The villagers avoided the leper out of fear of contagion.
- 2. He felt like a social leper after the scandal.
- 3. In medieval times, lepers were often isolated in colonies.
- 4. She was treated like a leper after betraying her friends.