mutism
Americannoun
noun
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the state of being mute
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psychiatry
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a refusal to speak although the mechanism of speech is not damaged
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the lack of development of speech, due usually to early deafness
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Etymology
Origin of mutism
From the New Latin word mūtismus, dating back to 1815–25. See mute, -ism
Explanation
Someone who's not able to speak suffers from mutism. Some types of mutism are caused by brain injury, while others have to do with the vocal cords. You can also call mutism muteness. Both words stem from mute, which is rooted in the Latin mutus, "silent or speechless." Occasionally, mutism is the result of a person's conscious decision not to speak, but it can also be connected to trauma, delays in development, or a type of paralysis of the larynx, also known as the voice box.
Vocabulary lists containing mutism
Psychological Conditions and Disorders
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Psychology
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Becoming Naomi León
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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.
Early intervention for children with mutism is recognised as crucial to prevent the problem continuing into adulthood.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2025
Selective mutism can start at any age but most often begins in early childhood between the ages of two and four.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2024
"We are also developing resources aimed at parents and teaching staff to provide universal and targeted support for children with selective mutism."
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2024
When Daisy-Mae was growing up her family thought she was just shy, but her crippling silence around strangers was actually selective mutism.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2024
During the night she is reported to have varied between stiffness with mutism and a more relaxed state.
From Benign Stupors A Study of a New Manic-Depressive Reaction Type by MacCurdy, John T. (John Thompson)
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.
