scotoma

American  

[skoh-toh-muh] / skoʊˈtoʊ mə /

noun

Pathology.

PLURAL

scotomas, scotomata

1. loss of vision in a part of the visual field; blind spot.

---

scotoma British  

/ skɒˈtəʊmə, skɒˈtɒmətəs /

noun

1. pathol a blind spot; a permanent or temporary area of depressed or absent vision caused by lesions of the visual system, viewing the sun directly ( eclipse scotoma ), squinting, etc

2. psychol a mental blind spot; inability to understand or perceive certain matters

---

Other Word Forms

• scotomatous adjective

Etymology

Origin of scotoma

1535–45; < Late Latin < Greek skótōma dizziness. See scoto-, -oma

Example Sentences

Another memorable image is a scientific illustration of “a scintillating scotoma, one of many manifestations of migraine aura.”

From Washington Post

In the spectrum’s wake was an area of diminished vision called a scotoma.

From Nature

Harris’ attempted self-exoneration didn’t help, either — it merely revealed a moral scotoma in his understanding of gender, sexism and related issues.

From Salon

When he closed his left eye Sacks “amputated” his leg by moving his gaze until it was contained within the scotoma.

From Scientific American

He even pulled out a fancy word — scotoma — to explain the philosophy.

From Washington Post