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.

---

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

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

Noah, 13, has severe non-verbal autism and sensory processing disorder.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

But his younger brother Jack, who is autistic and non-verbal, will only be eligible to apply sometime after 6 April when he finishes being home schooled.

From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2026

Ava, who is non-verbal, has profound learning disabilities and suffers from severe epilepsy.

From BBC ● Mar. 30, 2026

Scott took the non-verbal hint and they watched in silence as the computer whirred searching for similar photo files in its massive memory.

From Terminal Compromise: computer terrorism: when privacy and freedom are the victims: a novel by Winn Schwartau

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