lipreading

[lip-ree-ding]

noun

1. the reading or understanding, as by a deaf person, of spoken words from the movements of another's lips without hearing the sounds made.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lipreading¹

First recorded in 1870–75; lipread + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Now, her hearing isn’t entirely gone—in fact, she can have a whole verbal conversation with a hearing person by combining her lipreading skills with the sound that’s amplified through her hearing aids.

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Last month at the Golden Globes, the singer and friend Selena Gomez were caught on camera talking and fans all over the internet were lipreading their conversation.

Read more on Salon

All attendees are allowed to remove their mask when speaking to Paralympians or others who rely on lipreading—with the suggestion that they stay two meters from the athletes.

Read more on Scientific American

“Before, I would rely on lipreading and residual hearing to communicate with everyone from cashiers to bank tellers to the dentist and more,” says Beatrice Bachleda, a Deaf yoga instructor.

Read more on The Verge

Hearing people, usually well-meaning acquaintances, are quick to send me articles they’ve seen on Facebook about clear masks designed to help with lipreading.

Read more on Washington Post