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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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
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
He told jurors the boy had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and selective mutism, and gradually stopped speaking after his arrest, giving evidence by typing on a keyboard and speaking through an intermediary.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2023
No greater error is committed than the confusion of deaf mutism secondary to ear disease with the congenital type.
From Degeneracy Its Causes, Signs and Results by Eugene S. Talbot
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
