Standard Lemma guide

kernicterus

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /kɜːˈnɪktəɹəs/
  • General-American: /kɝˈnɪktəɹəs/

1

noun

Meaning 1

Damage to the brain centres of infants caused by increased levels of unconjugated-indirect bilirubin which is free (not bound to albumin).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: medicine, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bilirubinencephalopathy

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an abnormal accumulation of bile pigment in the brain and other nerve tissue; causes yellow staining and tissue damage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: jaundice, icterus

History

Etymology

Borrowed from German Kernikterus, from Kern (“nucleus”) + Ikterus (“icterus, jaundice”).

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: kernikterus — infant brain damage caused by increased levels of unconjugated-indirect free bilirubin
  • German: Kernikterus — infant brain damage caused by increased levels of unconjugated-indirect free bilirubin
  • German: Bilirubinenzephalopathie — infant brain damage caused by increased levels of unconjugated-indirect free bilirubin