albino

/ælˌbaɪˈnoʊ/

/ælˈbaɪnəʊ/

Other forms: albinos

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."

Definitions of albino

1. noun

   (sometimes considered offensive) a person with an inherited condition characterized by the lack of a pigment called melanin, usually resulting in very pale skin, white hair, and pinkish eyes
   type of:

   anomaly, unusual person

   a person who is unusual
2. noun

   an animal with a genetic mutation that prevents the production of melanin, causing the animal to be pure white or very pale and to have pinkish eyes
3. noun

   a plant that lacks chlorophyll (a green pigment), causing it to be pale in color
4. adjective

   designating or characteristic of a living thing that lacks pigmentation