What does "jaundice" mean?
A morbid condition, characterized by yellowness of the eyes, skin, and urine.
Jaundice
/ˈd͡ʒɔːndɪs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A morbid condition, characterized by yellowness of the eyes, skin, and urine.
- Grammar: jaundice is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: icterus, abscess, acerbity, acrimony.
- Useful contrasts: absence of jaundice, acholia, fairness.
- Usage evidence: Newborns are prone to jaundice.
How to use "jaundice"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "jaundice" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "jaundice" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "jaundice" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "jaundice" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "jaundice" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "icterus" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "jaundice", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A morbid condition, characterized by yellowness of the eyes, skin, and urine. countable, uncountable
"Why ſhould a man whoſe bloud is warme within, / Sit like his Grandſire, cut in Alabaſter? / Sleepe when he wakes? and creep into the Iaundies / By being peeuiſh?"
- 2 a rough and bitter manner wordnet
- 3 A feeling of bitterness, resentment or jealousy. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"No, sir, he, / Vex'd with a morbid devil in his blood / That veil'd the world with jaundice, hid his face / From all men, and commercing with himself, / He lost the sense that handles daily life— […]"
- 4 yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood; can be a symptom of gallstones or liver infection or anemia wordnet
Verb
- 1 To affect with jaundice; to color by prejudice or envy; to prejudice. transitive
"The envy of wealth jaundiced his soul."
- 2 affect with, or as if with, jaundice wordnet
- 3 distort adversely wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"Newborns are prone to jaundice."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "jaundice"?
Common synonyms include: icterus, abscess, acerbity, acrimony, ague, anemia.
How do you use "jaundice" in a sentence?
Newborns are prone to jaundice.
How do you pronounce "jaundice"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɔːndɪs/.
Etymology
From Middle English jaundis, jaunis, from Middle French jaunisse, from jaune (“yellow”) + -isse (“-ness”). Jaune, from Old French jalne, from Latin galbinus (“yellowish”), from galbus (“yellow”).