Definition of ALBINISM

Did You Know?

An aberration occurring in humans and other vertebrates, albinism is an absence of pigment in the eyes, skin, hair, scales, or feathers caused by a genetic defect. Albino animals rarely survive in the wild because they lack the pigments that normally provide the protective coloration and a screen against the sun’s rays. Humans have long bred certain albino animals, such as rabbits, for their appearance. In humans with total albinism, the affected person has milk-white skin and hair; the iris of the eye appears pink and the pupil is red. Problems with vision are common in albinism. Total albinism occurs in all races in about one in 20,000 persons.

Examples of albinism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rate of albinism in Africa is much higher than in other parts of the world. — Deutsche Welle, USA TODAY, "Zimbabwe crowns first 'Miss Albino' in bid to tackle stigma," 17 Mar. 2018 The medical term for Savannah's visual impairment is oculocutaneous albinism. — Tim Funk, charlotteobserver, "Legally blind, she never could see her dad play for the Panthers. Now he cheers for her.," 15 June 2018 Diandra Forrest has albinism, a condition that results in little or no production of melanin, the pigment that helps determine the color of your skin, hair, and eyes, per the Mayo Clinic. — Korin Miller, SELF, "This Photographer Is Documenting the Realities of Living With Skin Conditions," 14 June 2018 More amazing photography projects: Now watch what makes this woman with albinism feel beautiful: Follow Marci on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to Allure's newsletter for daily beauty stories delivered right to your inbox. — Marci Robin, Allure, "This Portrait Series Lets People With Conditions That Affect Their Appearance Respond to Rude Comments," 11 June 2018 Joanné Dion, a Black model with albinism, a condition that affects the amount of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, is opening up about her struggle to feel accepted by both Black and white communities. — refinery29.com, "Joanné Dion: The Black Model Accused Of Having White Privilege," 8 June 2018 Most animals feature a range of color variations, including albinism (an absence of pigment) and leucism (a partial loss of pigmentation). — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin man encounters rare white deer fawn on Sauk County morel mushroom hunt," 15 May 2018 Played by Jones, a relative acting neophyte better known to some hip-hop fans as Krondon, Tobias couples menace with abrupt violence and, as both actor and character have albinism, the character's imposing threat feels unfamiliar. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Black Lightning': TV Review," 15 Jan. 2018 Skin cancer is the primary killer of people with albinism in Africa, according to local rights groups. — Daniel Wesangula, The Christian Science Monitor, "Girl with albinism wins top school prize in Kenya," 8 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'albinism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.