Definition of Alexia

Alexia: A neurological disorder characterized by loss of the ability to read or understand the written word. Alexia is a complex visual disturbance resulting from disease in the visual-association areas at the back of the brain. Someone who has had a stroke may be left with pure (total) or partial alexia. Partial alexia permits the individual to recognize letters but only read only certain types of words such as the concrete noun "inn" but not the more abstract preposition "in". Also called word blindness.

From the Greek prefix "a-" (without or not) + "lexis" (word) = without word.