Jaundice is a word with several meanings. Most commonly, it refers to a medicalrelating to doctors, healthcare, or the treatment of illness condition that causes yellowingbecoming a yellow color of the skin and eyes. It can also mean a harsh or bitter manner, or be used as a verb meaning to distortchange something so its true meaning or shape is altered something unfairly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈdʒɔndɪs/
Easy pronunciation: JAWN-diss (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: JAWN-diss.
Medical noun meaning yellowing of the skin and eyes from bilirubin buildup.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Jaundice Meaning
A medical condition that makes the skin and eyes turn yellow.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood.
Example: The doctor checked him for jaundice after his skin and eyes looked yellow.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- icterus — Medical term for the same condition.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Jaundice
Meaning 2
A harsh, bitter way of speaking or behaving.
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a rough and bitter manner
Example: There was a note of jaundice in her reply.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- acerbity — A sharp, bitter manner or tone.
- acrimony — Bitter harshness, especially in speech or disagreement.
- bitterness — Can fit this sense when referring to a bitter attitude or tone.
- tartness — Can describe a sharp, cutting manner, though it is less common.
Meaning 3
To make someone or something seem jaundiced.
Part of speech: verb
Definition: affect with, or as if with, jaundice
Example: The illness jaundiced his appearance.
Meaning 4
To make something seem worse or more negative than it really is.
Part of speech: verb
Definition: distort adversely
Example: Jealousy had jaundiced his judgment.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Jaundice Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- icterus
a rough and bitter manner
- acerbity
- acrimony
- bitterness
- tartness
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use jaundice only for the medical condition, but it can also mean bitterness or a distorted outlook.
- Do not confuse jaundice with jaundiced, the adjective, which often means bitterly biased or pessimistic.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does jaundice mean?
Most often, jaundice means a medical condition that causes yellowing of the skin and eyes. It can also mean a bitter, harsh manner or, as a verb, to distort something negatively.
What is a synonym for jaundice?
For the medical sense, icterus is a synonym. For the sense meaning a bitter manner, synonyms include acerbity and acrimony.
Is jaundice always a medical term?
No. It is usually medical, but it also has older figurative uses meaning bitterness or distortion.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
