aphasia

American  

[uh-fey-zhuh] / əˈfeɪ ʒə /

noun

Pathology.

1. an impairment of a previously held ability to produce or understand spoken, written, or signed language, due to disease or injury of the brain.

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aphasia British  

/ əˈfeɪzɪə /

noun

1. a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by partial or total loss of the ability to communicate, esp in speech or writing Compare alexia

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aphasia Scientific  

/ ə-fā′zhə /

1. Partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language, resulting from damage to the brain that is caused by injury or disease.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• aphasiac
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of aphasia

First recorded in 1865–70; from Greek: literally “speechlessness,” equivalent to a- a- ⁶ + phat(ós) “spoken” (derivative of phánai “to speak”) + -ia -ia

Compare meaning

How does aphasia compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• aphagia vs. aphasia

Explanation

Aphasia is the inability to express or comprehend written or spoken words. If you can understand this sentence, you don't have it. Aphasia is a medical condition caused by serious brain damage. However, you can also use it to dramatically exaggerate. If you don’t understand the scientific language in a biology textbook, you might feel like you’re suffering from aphasia.

Example Sentences

Aphasia is a condition that makes it difficult to communicate, affecting speaking, reading and writing, and often follows a stroke or brain injury.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Aphasia has a wide-ranging effect on the functional capacity and quality of life of affected individuals and easily leads to social isolation.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2024

Aphasia is a symptom of some other underlying condition, such as dementia, stroke or head injury.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2024

Aphasia, a brain disorder that can lead to problems speaking or understanding words, can be a symptom of it.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

When, again, an injury comes to the auditory centre in the temporal region, we find the converse of the case just described; the defect is then called Auditory Aphasia.

From The Story of the Mind by Baldwin, James Mark