weal

Weal is a noun with two principal senses in English. In medicine and dermatology, it denotes a raised patch on the skin, commonly called a welt or wheal, often accompanied by itching. In political and social language, weal refers to the general well-being or public good of a community, as in phrases such as “the common weal” or “public weal.”

In dermatology, a weal is typically a transient, raised area that is red or pale and may coalesce with other welts. It can occur in various conditions, most notably urticaria (hives), insect bites, drug reactions, or exposure to irritants. The terms weal and wheal are sometimes used interchangeably in medical texts, though terminology can vary by region and specialty.

Historically, the civic sense of weal is common in older English writing, including legal and political discourse. Today it survives mainly in fixed expressions and historical literature, while modern usage tends toward terms such as “well-being” or “public welfare.” The related phrase “commonweal” appears in some contexts to denote the common good of the realm.

See also: welt; wheal; urticaria; public weal; commonweal.