noun · rare

scotoma

scotoma · scotomas · scotomata

An area of impaired or lost vision within a visual field otherwise in a good stateAn area of impaired or lost vision within a visual field otherwise in a good (or at least healthy) state.

/skəˈtoʊ.mə/

Meaning

2 senses

An area of impaired or lost vision within a visual field otherwise in a good (or at least healthy) state.
an isolated area of diminished vision within the visual field
(figuratively)A weakness of the mind's perception, cognition, or world view, causing it to ignore some aspects of reality.
intellectual scotoma

Origin

From Late Latin scotoma, from Ancient Greek σκότωμα (skótōma), from σκότος (skótos, “darkn

From Late Latin scotoma, from Ancient Greek σκότωμα (skótōma), from σκότος (skótos, “darkness”). By surface analysis, scot- + -oma. The figurative sense is an extension from the literal sense, as if the mind, like an eye, cannot "see" certain things.

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