Meaning & use

icteric

adjective·Advanced

Relating to or affected by jaundice, the yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by excess bilirubin.

See it in a sentence

The newborn's icteric skin tone prompted the nurses to check his bilirubin levels immediately.

An icteric appearance in adults often points to a problem with the liver or bile ducts.

A note on using this word

Icteric is a clinical, medical term; 'jaundiced' is the more common everyday word for the same yellowish discoloration.

Words with a similar meaning

jaundiced

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