amusia

American  

[ey-myoo-zee-uh] / eɪˈmyu zi ə /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. the inability to produce or comprehend music or musical sounds.

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amusia British  

/ eɪˈmjuːzɪə /

noun

1. the inability to distinguish differences in musical pitch; tone deafness

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Other Word Forms

• amusic adjective

Etymology

Origin of amusia

< New Latin < Greek amousía state of being without the Muses, especially song. See a- ⁶, Muse, -ia

Example Sentences

It is known as congenital amusia, or an inability to hear music and understand it as — well — music.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2022

If nothing else, Grant's life offers a glimpse at how someone with congenital amusia can try to make the best of their situation.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2022

People, including individuals with amusia, develop implicit knowledge of music rules, and are often unaware that they hold this knowledge.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 11, 2022

Doctors at Swedish, Deuel said, treated her with antiviral medication to halt the spread of the infection — and the instrument helped relieve her amusia.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 23, 2017

Intriguingly, people with amusia show no overt signs of brain damage or short-term-memory impairment, and magnetic-resonance-imaging scans of their brains look normal.

From Time Magazine Archive