albinism

American  

[al-buh-niz-uhm] / ˈæl bəˌnɪz əm /

noun

1. the state or condition of being an albino.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived 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

Muhitu, who received $250 for winning the Miss Albinism prize, commended the growing number of events that celebrate people with albinism in Africa.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2023

Albinism is a genetic condition characterised by a lack of the protective pigment melanin in the hair, skin and eyes.

From Reuters • Jul. 17, 2023

In an effort to provide further security for children with albinism, the Association of Persons with Albinism has been helping to send them to boarding schools by finding donors to pay for their school fees.

From Washington Times • Mar. 2, 2020

Albinism is a congenital disorder more common among people of African descent than white Europeans – one in 10,000 of the former is born albino, compared with one in 36,000 of the latter.

From The Guardian • Mar. 15, 2017

Albinism is of frequent occurrence; and it is common to find closely allied varieties of animals differing in colour.

From Logic Deductive and Inductive by Read, Carveth