1. abnormal darkening of the skin or tissues due to excessive deposition of melanin or melanin-like pigment
Usage: medical term; often used in dermatology and pathology
2. a condition in which dark pigmentation appears in internal organs or tissues, sometimes associated with certain diseases or poisoning
Usage: medical/pathological term; less common than the dermatological sense

Examples

• The patient developed melanosis after prolonged sun exposure without protection.
• Melanosis can occur as a side effect of certain medications.
• The dermatologist diagnosed melanosis by examining the darkened patches on the patient's face.
• Addison's disease sometimes causes melanosis due to increased melanin production.
• Melanosis of the conjunctiva may appear as brown spots on the eye's surface.