pallor

noun

pal·​lor ˈpa-lər 

: deficiency of color especially of the face : paleness

The boy's sickly pallor concerned his parents.

Examples of pallor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This at a time when a sluggish box office and a lack of employment in onscreen entertainment has already given the business a sickly Nosferatu-like pallor. —Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025

His skin has the greyish pallor of spoiled beef, dotted with scabs and open wounds. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2024

One possible complication of E. coli is a type of kidney failure called hemolytic—uremic syndrome, symptoms of which include easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024

These can include: Dehydration Bloody diarrhea Abdominal cramps Fever In rare cases, some people, especially older adults and children under 5, may develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pallour, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French palur, pallor "paleness, wanness, pale yellow color (of gold), borrowed from Latin pallor "paleness of complexion, loss of color," noun derivative, with the suffix -ōr-, -or (early Latin -ōs), from the base of pallēre "to be pale or bloodless, have a pale color," pallidus "pale, colorless" — more at fallow entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pallor

noun

pal·​lor ˈpal-ər 

: paleness especially of the face

Medical Definition

pallor

noun

pal·​lor ˈpal-ər 

: deficiency of color especially of the face : paleness

patients in hemorrhagic shock may exhibit extreme pallor

—Scientific American Medicine