# albino

/æɫˈbaɪˌnoʊ/ (US) · /ælbˈiːnəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/albino
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. person or animal with albinism

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a person or animal born without natural color in their skin, hair, or eyes, making them appear very white or pale.

For teachers: a person or animal affected by albinism, a genetic condition resulting in the absence of melanin.

- The zoo has a rare albino alligator that is completely white.
- Researchers studied the genetic markers of the albino squirrel population to understand how the lack of pigment affected their survival in the wild.

Usage: While common in biology, using this as a noun for people can be sensitive; 'person with albinism' is often preferred in formal contexts.

### 2. lacking pigment

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a living thing that has no natural color in its skin, hair, or eyes.

For teachers: relating to or affected by albinism; lacking normal pigmentation.

- The albino rabbit was easy to spot against the green grass.
- The botanist identified an albino plant that lacked chlorophyll, a condition rarely seen in that specific mountain range.

## Examples

- The zoo has a rare albino alligator.
- Because an albino animal lacks natural camouflage, it often faces greater risks from predators in the wild.
- The genetic mutation that results in an albino individual affects the synthesis of tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for the first step of melanin production.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.