Definition

The skin that surrounds the edges of a fingernail or toenail.

Example

She carefully pushed back the perionychium to clean under her nails.

Conversation

Have you ever wondered what the perionychium really is?

I think it's the skin around your nails, right?

Exactly! It helps protect the nail area from infections.

That makes sense, I never thought about how important it is.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Perionychium is formed from "peri-" (meaning around) and "onyx" (from Greek "onyx", meaning claw or nail). The word refers to the area around the nail or claw.

Memory Tip

Think of something that is 'around' ('peri-') a 'nail' ('onyx') — that's why perionychium refers to the area surrounding a nail.

Visually Confused Words