phosphene

P3H4O1S1P3H4E1N1E1

noun

A sensation of lights induced by mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation (rather than optical) of the retina or visual cortex, or by random firing of cells in the visual system.

OriginFrench phosphène ← Ancient Greek φῶς →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounphosphene (plural phosphenes)

plural phosphenes

  1. A sensation of lights induced by mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation (rather than optical) of the retina or visual cortex, or by random firing of cells in the visual system.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekφῶς“light”
  2. Frenchphosphène
  3. Englishphosphene

From French phosphène, from Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs, “light”) + φαίνω (phaínō, “to appear, shine”).

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan fosfè
  • fosfèsensation of lights
Dutch fosfeen
  • fosfeensensation of lights
Finnish fosfeeni
  • fosfeenisensation of lights
French phosphène
  • phosphènesensation of lights
Portuguese fosfeno
  • fosfenosensation of lights
Spanish fosfeno
  • fosfenosensation of lights

Rhymes & wordplay

Sounds the same

phosphine
Cite this entry
APA

phosphene. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphene

MLA

“phosphene.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphene. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phosphene,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phosphene.

Source: phosphene on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.