What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pale
Example
She looked pale and weak after the surgery. [pale: adjective]
Example
The walls were painted in a pale shade of blue. [pale: adjective]
pallid
Example
His face was pallid and gaunt after weeks of illness. [pallid: adjective]
Example
The sky was a pallid gray, with no hint of sunshine. [pallid: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pale is more common than pallid in everyday language, and it can be used in a wider range of contexts. Pallid is more formal and less common, and it is typically used to describe a person's appearance or a color that lacks brightness.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pale and pallid?
Pallid is more formal than pale, and it is often used in medical or scientific contexts. Pale is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
