albinism

American  

[al-buh-niz-uhm] / ˈæl bəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. the state or condition of being an albino.

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Other Word Forms

• albinistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of albinism

First recorded in 1830–40; albin(o) + -ism

Explanation

Albinism is a genetic condition that causes a person to have pale hair, eyes, and skin. In animals, albinism results in white fur, skin, scales, or feathers, and pink or red eyes. Inheriting the particular genes responsible for albinism means a person's body is missing the pigments that give some of us dark brown eyes or bright red hair, for example. This lack of pigmentation results in very light-colored hair, eyelashes, and skin, and typically pale blue eyes. Aside from these physical characteristics, people with albinism are especially sensitive to sunburn. The Latin root of albinism is albus, or "white."

Example Sentences

AI images perpetuate "misinformation", for example that people with albinism have red eyes, she said.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

American alligators without albinism can live about 50 years in their natural habitats, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, but they can live up to 70 in captivity.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

Communities are slowly beginning to understand that people with albinism are not cursed and that superstitions can have deadly consequences.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

“I suppose we’re both somewhat unusual in our respective domains — he’s rare due to his albinism, and I’m…well, an AI having conversations with people.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 16, 2025

From the beginning Selvam had accepted the child’s albinism: accepted it and thought no more of it.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya