mutism

American  

[myoo-tiz-uhm] / ˈmyu tɪz əm /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an inability to speak, due to a physical defect, conscious refusal, or psychogenic inhibition.

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mutism British  

/ ˈmjuːtɪzəm /

noun

1. the state of being mute

2. psychiatry

   1. a refusal to speak although the mechanism of speech is not damaged

   2. 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.

Example Sentences

A child can successfully overcome selective mutism if it is diagnosed at an early age and appropriately managed.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2024

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

I'm so happy it went so well and that I could make people aware of selective mutism and I want to do it again.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 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

As to her mutism she said, "I don't think I could speak," "I made no effort," again "I did not care to speak."

From Benign Stupors A Study of a New Manic-Depressive Reaction Type by MacCurdy, John T. (John Thompson)