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.
"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
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
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
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
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 John T. (John Thompson) MacCurdy
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.
