pallor

/ˈpælər/

/ˈpælə/

Other forms: pallors

When you’ve got the flu, that pale, sickly color of your skin is called a pallor. Other causes of pallor include shock, stress, or 10 days spent indoors trying to beat your new video game.

Pallor comes from the Latin word pallere, which just means to “be pale.” That’s easy enough to remember, right? Pallor, pale. Don’t make yourself sick trying to memorize it, or you might get an unhealthy pallor from the strain.

Definitions of pallor

1. noun

   unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)
   synonyms: achromasia, lividity, lividness, luridness, paleness, pallidness, wanness

   type of:

   complexion, skin color, skin colour

   the coloring of a person's face