albino

American  

[al-bahy-noh, -bee-] / ælˈbaɪ noʊ, -ˈbi- /

noun

plural

albinos

1. a person with pale skin, light hair, pinkish eyes, and visual abnormalities resulting from a hereditary inability to produce the pigment melanin.

2. an animal or plant with a marked deficiency in pigmentation.

3. Philately. an embossed stamp accidentally left without ink.

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albino British  

/ ˌælbɪˈnɒtɪk, ælˈbiːnəʊ, ælˈbɪnɪk, ˈælbɪˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. a person with congenital absence of pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair

2. any animal or plant that is deficient in pigment

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albino Scientific  

/ ăl-bī′nō /

1. An organism lacking normal pigmentation or coloration. Animals that are albinos lack pigmentation due to a congenital absence of melanin. In humans and other mammals, albinos have white hair, pale skin, and usually pinkish eyes. Plants that are albinos lack normal amounts of chlorophyll or other pigments.

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Other Word Forms

• albinal
  adjective
• albinic
  adjective
• albinism
  noun
• albinotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of albino

1770–80; < Portuguese, equivalent to alb ( o ) white (< Latin albus ) + -ino -ine ¹

Explanation

An albino is someone who is born with an absence of skin and hair pigmentation. This usually results in an albino having pale hair, eyes, and skin. Some people who are considered to be albinos find the term offensive, although there are many different opinions about this in the community. For most people with albinism — or lack of pigmentation — if the word albino is used respectfully, it's perfectly acceptable. The disorder is genetic, and it can affect just the eyes, or the eyes and the skin. The word albino has a Latin root, albus, or "white."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the September 17, 2025, print edition as 'How an Albino Alligator Became An Obsession Inside an AI Giant'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 16, 2025

Albino is a retired firefighter and Marine Corps veteran who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and himself a father and grandfather, according to the newspaper.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2024

It is not yet known who seized Albino Gómez or why.

From BBC • May 27, 2024

Albino bison are also different from white or tan bison that result from crossing bison with white cattle, particularly Charolais.

From Science Daily • Nov. 20, 2023

To his astonishment the runner was none other than John Macklin the Albino, chairman of the Society, his face livid with terror, and his breath coming from him in great spasmodic jerks.

From In Strange Company A Story of Chili and the Southern Seas by Boothby, Guy Newell