Aphasia

Pronunciation

• IPA: /əˈfeɪzɪə/

Origin

Modern Latin, from Ancient Greek ἀφασία, from ἄφατος ("speechless"), from ἀ- ("not") + φάσις ("speech").

Full definition of aphasia

Noun

1. (pathology) A partial or total loss of language skills due to brain damage. Usually, damage to the left perisylvian region, including Broca's area and Wernike's area, causes aphasia.
• 1888, Rudyard Kipling, "The Conversion of Aurelian McGoggin" in Plain Tales from the Hills, Folio 2005, p. 76:The Doctor came over in three minutes, and heard the story. ‘It's aphasia,’ he said.

Derived terms

• aphasiac
• aphasic

Related terms

• monophasia