mutism

[ myoo-tiz-uhm ]

/ ˈmyu tɪz əm /

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noun Psychiatry.

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

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Origin of mutism

From the New Latin word mūtismus, dating back to 1815–25. See mute, -ism

Words nearby mutism

mutilation, mutineer, mutinous, mutinously, mutiny, mutism, muton, Mutsuhito, mutt, Mutt and Jeff, mutter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use mutism in a sentence

In fact we are tempted to jump at the conclusion that consanguinity is in itself a cause of deaf-mutism.
Consanguineous Marriages in the American Population|George B. Louis Arner
Dumb walls merely, their mutism leaves large scope to imagination, and one may conjecture any but the right thing.
The Mayas, the Sources of Their History / Dr. Le Plongeon in Yucatan, His Account of Discoveries|Stephen Salisbury, Jr.
Even if the patient recovers, whether as the result of operation or not, deaf-mutism or mental deficiency frequently occurs.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various
A very complete family history showing deaf-mutism is given in Fig. 21.
The Social Direction of Evolution|William E. Kellicott

Cousin Primitivo himself, with all the wisdom of the ancients, could not draw him out of his mutism.
An Eagle Flight|Jos Rizal

British Dictionary definitions for mutism

mutism

/ (ˈmjuːtɪzəm) /

noun

the state of being mute

psychiatry

a refusal to speak although the mechanism of speech is not damaged
the lack of development of speech, due usually to early deafness

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 mutism

mutism

[ myōō′tĭz′əm ]

Absence of the faculty of speech.

mutism

Origin of mutism

Words nearby mutism

Words related to mutism

How to use mutism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mutism

Medical definitions for mutism