agnosia

[ ag-noh-zhuh, -zhee-uh, -zee-uh ]

noun

, Psychiatry, Psychology, Neurology.

1. partial or total inability to recognize objects by use of the senses.

agnosia

/ æɡˈnəʊzɪə /

noun

1. psychol loss or diminution of the power to recognize familiar objects or people, usually as a result of brain damage

Derived Forms

• agˈnosic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of agnosia¹

1895–1900; < Greek agnōsía ignorance, equivalent to ágnōt ( os ) unknown ( agnostic ) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of agnosia¹

C20: New Latin, from Greek agnōsia, from a- without + gnōsis knowledge

Example Sentences

Sacks put this query to people with autism, migraines, Tourette’s syndrome, agnosia.

From Scientific American

One common symptom of dementia is agnosia, the inability to recognize people, objects, smells or other sensations, McKay says.

From Washington Times

If so, you might have face blindness—officially called prosopagnosia, from the Greek word prosopon, meaning face, and agnosia, meaning ignorance.

From Time

He suffers from extreme visual agnosia and is unable to distinguish between things and the representation of things.

From The Guardian

D.F.’s entry into the case history annals came about because, as a result of her injuries, she could not recognize everyday objects, a condition called visual agnosia, yet she was still able to grasp them.

From Scientific American