Albino
Pronunciation
- RP IPA: /ælˈbiËnəʊ/
- GenAm IPA: /ælˈbaɪnoʊ/
- Ireland IPA: /alˈbiËnoË/
Origin
Portuguese albino, diminutive of albo, from Latin albus ("white").
Full definition of albino
Adjective
albino
- congenitally lacking melanin pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair or feathers (or more rarely only in the eyes); born with albinism
Usage notes
The term is considered offensive by some (when used as a term for human beings); "albinistic" is a possible alternative.
The term is not comparative: one either has albinism (a recessive genetic trait) or does not. While the effects of albinism may be more marked in some individuals, this does not make those individuals "more albino" than others. To the extent that it could be comparable, perhaps in metaphoric usage, the comparatives would be more/most/less/least albino (not *albinoer, *albinest, etc).
Synonyms
- (lacking melanin) albinal, albinic, albinistic, albinoid, hypomelanistic, hypomelanoid, amelanistic, amelanoid
Antonyms
- (having an excess of melanin) hypermelanistic, hypermelanoid, melanistic, melanoid
Noun
- (countable) A person or animal congenitally lacking melanin pigmentation in the skin, eyes, and hair or feathers (or more rarely only in the eyes); one born with albinism.
Usage notes
The term is considered offensive by some when used to designate a human being; the phrase "person with albinism" is a neutral alternative.
Synonyms
- (one lacking melanin) albinoid, hypomelanoid, amelanoid
Antonyms
- (one having an excess of melanin) hypermelanoid, melano, melanoid