albinism

/ˈælbɪnɪzᵊm/

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."

Definitions of albinism

1. noun

   the congenital absence of pigmentation in the eyes and skin and hair
   type of:

   hypopigmentation

   unusual lack of skin color

   birth defect, congenital abnormality, congenital anomaly, congenital defect, congenital disorder

   a defect that is present at birth