non-verbal

American  

[nahn-vur-buhl] / ˌnɑnˈvɜr bəl /

adjective

1. (of communication) not spoken.

2. (of a person, especially someone with an intellectual or developmental disability) unable to speak or unable to use language.

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noun

• non-verbals
  plural

1. a physical act that communicates something without speech, especially a conventional one such as a gasp of surprise or a nod of agreement.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• non-verbally
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• non-verbals
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

non-verbal non-verbals

Joel, four, is non-verbal and has severe learning difficulties and his parents made the "incredibly difficult decision" to decline his primary one placement offer because of the distance.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Diagnosed with autism, Arday had said he was non-verbal until age 11 and only learnt to read and write at 18, before becoming Cambridge's professor of sociology of education at 37.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

Diagnosed with autism, Arday says he was non-verbal until age 11 and only learnt to read and write at 18, before becoming Cambridge's professor of sociology of education at 37.

From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026

Gary Newman's 14-year-old son Oliver is autistic and non-verbal.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

The growth of non-verbal modes of human expression, communication, and interaction introduces elements of mediation.

From The Civilization of Illiteracy by Mihai Nadin

It is notable that Davis' analysis came not just from non-verbals, but non-verbals that she understood within a specific context.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2021

Mind the non-verbals, and always use positive, proactive gestures to reinforce a point.

From Inc ● Oct. 2, 2012