Definition

Having a bluish or purplish color, usually due to a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Example

The patient's lips were cyanotic, indicating a serious lack of oxygen.

Conversation

I learned about a condition called cyanotic during my biology class today.

Oh really? What does that mean exactly?

It means that someone has a bluish color due to lack of oxygen in their blood, which is pretty serious.

Wow, that's alarming! I didn't know that could happen.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cyanotic → It is formed from "cyan" (from Greek "kyanos", meaning dark blue) and "-otic" (from Greek "-osis", meaning condition or state). The word "cyanotic" refers to the condition of having a bluish discoloration of the skin due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for dark blue ('cyan') to remember that 'cyanotic' describes a condition where the skin appears bluish due to lack of oxygen.

Visually Confused Words