selective mutism

[ si-lek-tiv myoo-tiz-uhm ]

nounPsychiatry.
  1. an anxiety disorder characterized by the inability to speak in certain social environments, most commonly occurring in young children, especially in school.

Origin of selective mutism

1
First recorded in 1995–2000

Words Nearby selective mutism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024