pox

IPA/pɒks/
KK[pˈɑks]IPA/pɑːks/

pox — noun

1. an informal way of referring to the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, espec

1.nounC1
Definition

an informal way of referring to the sexually transmitted disease syphilis, especially in historical contexts

Example

Bao read that many historical figures suffered from the pox.

uncountable noun with 'the'

The old medical records listed the pox as the cause of death for many patients.

Common collocations
  • catch the pox
  • die of the pox
  • suffer from the pox
  • cure for the pox
Synonyms
  • syphilis

    the formal medical term; 'pox' is the informal, old-fashioned equivalent

Grammar Patterns

the pox

2. an old-fashioned term for smallpox, a serious viral disease that caused fever, s

2.nounC1
Definition

an old-fashioned term for smallpox, a serious viral disease that caused fever, skin blisters, and often death

Example

Reema’s great-grandmother survived the pox but it left scars on her face.

passive: 'survived the pox' with permanent effect

Before vaccines existed, the pox killed millions of people around the world.

Common collocations
  • pox outbreak
  • survive the pox
  • pox vaccine
  • pox scars
Synonyms
  • smallpox

    the standard modern medical term; 'pox' is the older, informal name

Grammar Patterns

the pox

Usage Note

This sense is now very rare in everyday speech because smallpox has been eradicated by vaccination. You are most likely to encounter it in historical texts or old family records.

3. a general term for any viral disease that causes red, pus-filled spots or bliste

3.nounB2
Definition

a general term for any viral disease that causes red, pus-filled spots or blisters to appear on the skin, such as chickenpox

Example

Amira stayed home from school for a week when she came down with the pox.

collocation: 'come down with the pox'

Felipe’s brother caught the pox from a classmate and was covered in itchy bumps.

Common collocations
  • come down with the pox
  • catch the pox
  • pox virus
  • pox vaccine
Synonyms
  • rash

    a broader term for any skin outbreak; 'pox' specifically refers to viral diseases with blisters or pustules

  • eruption

    a more formal medical term for a skin outbreak of spots or blisters

Grammar Patterns

the pox

come down with the pox

Usage Note

This sense is the most common modern use of 'pox'. It appears in compound names like chickenpox and monkeypox. The word is rarely used alone today without a prefix specifying the type of disease.

Common Mistakes

I got a pox on my arm.
I got a rash on my arm.
'Pox' refers to the whole disease, not to individual spots or sores.

pox — verb

Word family

  • chickenpox
    nounB1
  • smallpox
    nounC1
  • monkeypox
    nounC1
  • pockmark
    nounC1
  • pockmarked
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

The word 'pox' as a general term for viral skin diseases overlaps with several more specific terms. 'Chickenpox' is the most common modern form of pox, a mild childhood illness with itchy blisters. 'Smallpox' was a far more severe and often fatal disease that has now been eradicated through vaccination. 'Measles' produces a red skin rash but is caused by a different virus and does not create the pus-filled blisters (pustules) that define a pox. 'Rash' is a broader, non-specific term for any temporary skin change, while 'pox' specifically refers to viral diseases that leave raised, fluid-filled bumps. For everyday use, you would name the specific disease (chickenpox, monkeypox) rather than using 'pox' alone.

pox ↗chickenpoxsmallpox ↗rash ↗measles

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the pox
  • a dose of the pox

Prepositions

  • of — outbreak of pox / case of pox

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'pox' comes from the plural of Middle English 'pocke', meaning a pustule or blister on the skin. This comes from Old English 'pocc', which described a raised swelling on the skin. The same ancient root gave rise to German 'Pocke' (pockmark) and Dutch 'pok' (pox). Because many diseases (smallpox, chickenpox, syphilis) produce similar pustular skin eruptions, the plural form 'pox' became the standard name for these illnesses. The verb form appeared later as English speakers began using the disease name as a verb meaning 'to infect with the disease.'

First known use

1530

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb