albino

1 of 2

noun

al·​bi·​no al-ˈbī-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce albino (audio)
plural albinos
: an organism exhibiting deficient pigmentation
especially : a human being who is congenitally deficient in pigment and usually has a milky or translucent skin, white or colorless hair, and eyes with pink or blue iris and deep-red pupil

albino

2 of 2

adjective

: exhibiting the deficient pigmentation characteristic of albinos
albino sharks
The Draize test commonly uses six rabbits (preferably of the albino strain because of the clarity of their red eyes) to test a substance for eye irritancy.—Rachel Urquhart

Examples of albino in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The white squirrels, says Rosenberg, are leucistic, rather than albino. — Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026 And then there’s Claude, the city’s beloved albino alligator who bid adieu to his fans in December. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
One mobile, a cluster of white leaf shapes strung along long horizontal arcs, has the aloof grace of an albino peacock, turning with a gavotte rhythm. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025 White elephant trumpets back to the albino elephants once considered sacred in Siam (now Thailand). — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for albino

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Spanish & Portuguese; Portuguese albino, borrowed from Spanish, noun derivative of albino, adjective, "lacking in pigment," from albo "white" (borrowed from Latin albus) + -ino -ine entry 1 — more at album

Adjective

borrowed from Spanish, "lacking in pigment" — more at albino entry 1

Note: Alternatively the adjective could be from attributive use of the noun.

First Known Use

Noun

1708, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of albino was in 1708

Rhymes for albino

See All Rhymes for albino

Browse Nearby Words

albinistic
albino
Albinoni
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Albino.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/albino. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

albino

noun
al·​bi·​no al-ˈbī-nō How to pronounce albino (audio)
plural albinos
: an organism deficient in coloring matter
especially : a human being or animal that is born with a lack of pigment and usually a milky skin, white or colorless hair, and eyes with pink or blue iris and deep red pupil
albinism
ˈal-bə-ˌniz-əm, 
al-ˈbī-
noun
albino adjective

Medical Definition

albino

noun
al·​bi·​no al-ˈbī-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce albino (audio)
plural albinos
: an organism exhibiting deficient pigmentation
especially : a human being who is congenitally deficient in pigment and usually has a milky or translucent skin, white or colorless hair, and eyes with pink or blue iris and deep-red pupil
albinic
-ˈbin-ik How to pronounce albino (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on albino

Nglish: Translation of albino for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about albino

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