jaundiced

Summary

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Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: “Jaundiced”

Date: June 25, 2026
Host: Peter Sokolowski
Theme: Exploring the meaning, usage, and origin of the word “jaundiced”

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Episode Overview

This episode of Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day dives into the word “jaundiced,” explaining its meaning, usage, etymological roots, and the conceptual bridge between the medical condition and its figurative sense. The episode encourages listeners to understand and appreciate this nuanced adjective.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition & Usage

• Definition:

  • “Jaundiced is an adjective. It means showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste, or hostility.”
    (Host, 00:33)

• Contextual Example:

  • Host shares a real-life usage:

    “Now I'm not accusing the mayor of anything. I'm saying that all of these actions were highly inappropriate for an elected official. I voted for her, but will forevermore look at her actions with a jaundiced eye.”
    (Host reading from the Retrospect of Collingswood, NJ, 00:58)

• Playful Wordplay:

  • The host jokes:

    “Cast not a jaundiced eye on the word jaundiced. And by that we mean don't dislike or distrust the word jaundiced just because of past experiences with the word…”
    (Host, 01:13)

Practical Utility

• Describes a Distrustful Attitude:
  • The host highlights how handy the word is for describing skeptical or hostile dispositions:

    “Jaundiced is handy for describing the grumps among us who tend toward envy, aversion or hostility. And who doesn't know a few of those?”
    (Host, 01:30)

Etymology & Historical Roots

• Historical Development:

  • “This useful 17th century adjective comes from an also useful 14th century noun, jaundice, that still refers to a medical condition in which excess biopigments in the bloodstream and body tissues cause a person's skin to turn yellow.”
    (Host, 01:37)

• Physiological Connection:

  • Origins are linked to theories of body humors:

    “The connection between the physical condition and the bad attitude lies in the physiological theory of the bodily humors, which holds that a hostile, irritable temperament is caused by excess yellow bile in one's body.”
    (Host, 01:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lingering Skepticism:

  “...will forevermore look at her actions with a jaundiced eye.”
  (Example sentence, 00:58)

• Wordplay Encouragement:

  “Cast not a jaundiced eye on the word jaundiced...”
  (Host, 01:13)

• Relatable Humor:

  “Jaundiced is handy for describing the grumps among us who tend toward envy, aversion or hostility. And who doesn't know a few of those?”
  (Host, 01:30)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:33 – Definition of “jaundiced”
• 00:58 – Example sentence from the news
• 01:13 – Playful take on the word itself
• 01:30 – Practical description and use in conversation
• 01:37 – Etymological history and development of the word
• 01:52 – Link between the medical and metaphorical meanings

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Closing

The episode concludes with host Peter Sokolowski inviting listeners to visit Merriam-Webster’s website for more definitions, wordplay, and trending word lookups.

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign. It's Merriam Webster's Word of the Day for June 25th.

[B]

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[A]

Today's word is Jaundiced Spelled J A U N D I C E D Jaundiced is an adjective. It means showing or influenced by feelings of distrust, distaste or hostility. Someone described as jaundiced or as possessing jaundiced opinions or views is typically understood to feel that way because of negative past experiences. Here's the word used in a sentence from the retrospect of Collingswood, New Jersey. Now I'm not accusing the mayor of anything. I'm saying that all of these actions were highly inappropriate for an elected official. I voted for her, but will forevermore look at her actions with a jaundiced eye. Cast not a jaundiced eye on the word jaundiced. And by that we mean don't dislike or distrust the word jaundiced just because of past experiences with the word

[B]

or others like it.

[A]

Jaundiced is handy for describing the grumps among us who tend toward envy, aversion or hostility. And who doesn't know a few of Those? This useful 17th century adjective comes from an also useful 14th century noun, jaundice, that still refers to a medical condition in which excess biopigments in the bloodstream and body tissues cause a person's skin to turn yellow. The connection between the physical condition and the bad attitude lies in the physiological theory of the bodily humors, which holds that a hostile, irritable temperament is caused by excess yellow bile in one's body. With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.

[C]

Visit merriamwebster.com today for definitions, wordplay and trending word lookups.