deaf-mute
[ def-myoot ]
/ ˈdɛfˈmyut /
adjective
unable to hear and speak.
noun
a person who is unable to hear and speak, especially one in whom inability to speak is due to congenital or early deafness.
QUIZZES
TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!
Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!
Question 1 of 10
Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.
Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.
It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of deaf-mute
1830–40; translation of French sourd-muet
usage note for deaf-mute
See dumb.
OTHER WORDS FROM deaf-mute
deaf-mute·ness, deaf-mut·ism, nounWords nearby deaf-mute
deaf aid, deaf as a post, deaf without speech, deaf-and-dumb, deaf-blind, deaf-mute, deafblind, deafen, deafening, deafferentation, deafmutism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
British Dictionary definitions for deafmutism
deaf-mute
noun
a person who is unable to hear or speakSee also mute 1 (def. 7), mutism (def. 2b)
adjective
unable to hear or speak
Derived forms of deaf-mute
deaf-muteness or deaf-mutism, nounWord Origin for deaf-mute
C19: translation of French sourd-muet
usage for deaf-mute
Using this word to refer to people without speech is considered outdated and offensive, and should be avoided. The phrase profoundly deaf is a suitable alternative in many contexts
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for deafmutism (1 of 2)
deafmutism
[ dĕf′myōō′tĭz′əm ]
n.
Inability to hear and speak. No longer in technical use.
Medical definitions for deafmutism (2 of 2)
deaf-mute
[ dĕf′myōōt′ ]
n.
A person who can neither hear nor speak. No longer in technical use.
adj.
Unable to speak or hear.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.