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.
She also has selective mutism, driven by anxiety.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025
The NHS says that a child or adult with selective mutism "does not refuse or choose not to speak at certain times, they're literally unable to speak".
From BBC • Oct. 27, 2024
I want to wear the lanyard around my neck that says I have selective mutism and for people to understand what that is, like they would with autism.
From BBC • Mar. 17, 2024
Researchers also noted that PAG lesions, in particular, case mutism in humans — indicating the essential role the area plays in vocal communication.
From Salon • Jan. 8, 2024
Myers believes that in nearly every instance mutism follows stupor and is merely an attenuation of the latter process.
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.
