lividity
word
Definition
Lividity is the dark purple or bluish discoloration of the skin that appears on a dead body because blood settles in the lowest parts after death. It is mainly used in forensic medicine to help determine the time and position of death.
Usage & Nuances
Very formal and technical; mostly used in medical, forensic, or criminal investigation contexts. Commonly appears as 'postmortem lividity' or 'lividity marks.' Not used in everyday conversation.
Example Sentences
The doctor explained that lividity helps determine when a person died.
basic
Lividity appears on the lowest parts of the body after death.
basic
The police noted the lividity during the investigation.
basic
Signs of lividity told the medical examiner how long the body had been there.
natural
If lividity is fixed, the body hasn't moved in hours.
natural
The color of lividity can sometimes tell experts if someone died from poisoning.
natural