1. people suffering from consumption (tuberculosis)
Usage: archaic; medical

Examples

• The sanatorium was built to treat consumptives in the mountain air.
• In the 19th century, consumptives were often sent to warmer climates.
• The doctor specialized in caring for consumptives and other lung patients.
• Many consumptives sought treatment at the famous Swiss clinics.
• The novel depicted the tragic lives of consumptives in Victorian England.