prosopagnosia

noun

pros·​op·​ag·​no·​sia ˌprä-sə-pag-ˈnō-zhə 

medical

: a form of visual agnosia characterized by an inability to recognize faces

Examples of prosopagnosia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The doctor, who has prosopagnosia, or facial blindness, also starts up a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Josh Nichols (Teddy Sears) and contends with the death of his father, who struggled with mental illness throughout his life. —Madeleine Janz, People.com, 7 Jan. 2025

The uncertainty and the ubiquity of a stalker’s presence really haunt people, Storey says, and these factors are only heightened for people with prosopagnosia. —Sadie Dingfelder, TIME, 28 Oct. 2024

Like Sacks, Quinto’s protagonist rides motorcycles; loves ferns and swimming in the rivers of New York City; and has prosopagnosia, or face blindness. —Max Gao, NBC News, 23 Sep. 2024

The prosopagnosia hinders Oliver’s ability to forge new relationships, for instance with the four interns under his watch. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Prosopagnosie, from Greek prósōpon "face, mask, person" + German Agnosie agnosia — more at prosopopoeia

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prosopagnosia

• agnosia

Medical Definition

prosopagnosia

noun

pros·​op·​ag·​no·​sia ˌpräs-əp-ag-ˈnō-zhə 

: a form of visual agnosia characterized by an inability to recognize faces