deaf
Americanadjective
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partially or wholly lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing; unable to hear.
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refusing to listen, heed, or be persuaded; unreasonable or unyielding.
deaf to all advice.
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Deaf, of or relating to the Deaf or their cultural community.
Deaf customs and values.
noun
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Deaf persons collectively (usually preceded bythe ).
social services for the Deaf.
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Usually the Deaf Deaf persons who identify themselves as members of a community composed of Deaf persons and others who share in their culture.
adjective
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partially or totally unable to hear
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( as collective noun ; preceded by the ) See also tone-deaf
the deaf
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refusing to heed
deaf to the cries of the hungry
Pronunciation
Deaf is usually pronounced , with the vowel of left. In uneducated speech the dialectal pronunciation , to rhyme with leaf, is still heard occasionally, but it is increasingly rare.
Other Word Forms
- deafly adverb
- deafness noun
- half-deaf adjective
- nondeaf adjective
- nondeafly adverb
- nondeafness noun
- quasi-deaf adjective
- quasi-deafly adverb
- semideaf adjective
- semideafness noun
- undeaf adjective
Etymology
Origin of deaf
First recorded before 900; Middle English deef, Old English dēaf; cognate with Middle Low German dōf, Dutch doof, Old High German toub
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His calls for help in securing the Strait of Hormuz have fallen on deaf ears.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
The director, whose father is deaf, also saw this project as an opportunity to connect with the Deaf community.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026
In 2023, at age 86, Holtz questioned the toughness of coach Ryan Day’s Ohio State football team—a statement that didn’t fall on deaf ears.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
Oliver grew up in a deaf family where BSL was his first language so he "didn't feel the need" to get a hearing aid or a cochlear implant.
From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026
“Eye outside,” she says loud, like I’m deaf.
From "Al Capone Does My Shirts" by Gennifer Choldenko
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
