aphasia

[ uh-fey-zhuh ]

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.

aphasia

/ 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

aphasia

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• aˈphasiˌac, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphasia¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of aphasia¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek, from a- ¹+ -phasia, from phanai to speak

Example Sentences

Bank recovered, but she told the Guardian in 1999 that even before the accident she suffered from aphasia, experiencing intense migraines and struggling at times to express herself.

From Washington Post

She is a classic “people person” who finds ways to communicate with everyone she meets despite her challenge with the language disability aphasia.

From Time

If I hadn’t been shot in the head, leading to partial paralysis, aphasia, and a decade-long journey to regain the ability to walk and talk.

From Time

In addition to recovering from her physical injuries, Giffords suffered a brain injury that left her with aphasia, a language disorder that makes it harder to communicate through speech.

From TIme

That can lead to social isolation, one of the most emotionally painful potential consequences of aphasia.

From Time

Still, she suffered from aphasia, finding it difficult to speak, read and write.

From The Daily Beast

Meantime the doctor reported that my suspicion as to aphasia was right.

From Project Gutenberg

Paralysis was followed by aphasia, and after acute pain, followed by a long period of apathy, death relieved him in October 1745.

From Project Gutenberg

What we suffer from most,” said the spectre, when I had partly recovered from my fright, “is a kind of aphasia.

From Project Gutenberg

All impairment of speech is called Aphasia, and it is called Motor Aphasia when the apparatus is damaged on the side of movement.

From Project Gutenberg

The disease called aphasia, in which people begin by saying tea when they mean coffee, commonly ends in their silence.

From Project Gutenberg