soundproof

American  

[sound-proof] / ˈsaʊndˌpruf /

adjective

1. impervious to sound.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to be soundproof.

soundproof British  

/ ˈsaʊndˌpruːf /

adjective

1. not penetrable by sound

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verb

1. (tr) to render soundproof

Other Word Forms

• soundproofing
  noun

Etymology

Origin of soundproof

First recorded in 1875–80; sound ¹ + -proof

Explanation

When you soundproof a room, you insulate it so that less noise can be heard outside it. A musician who records albums in her apartment might soundproof the room in which she keeps her drums. If you practice playing the bagpipes daily, you might want to soundproof your house so you won't bother your neighbors. Alternately, if you record books on tape in your bedroom, you could soundproof the room so that outside noises won't interfere with your work. You can also use soundproof as an adjective: "The party was in a soundproof room in the hotel, so we could turn the music up as loud as we wanted."

Example Sentences

Its standout artifacts include Voltaire’s custom-designed gilded armchair, equipped with a writing desk and drawers, and a re-creation of the bedroom of Marcel Proust, including a piece of his famously cork-lined, soundproof walls.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Each person sat in a soundproof room and focused on a fixed cross displayed on a screen.

From Science Daily • Dec. 23, 2025

Under the reforms, developers seeking to build near venues would be told to soundproof buildings, while permissions would be fast-tracked for new businesses or expanded outdoor areas in designated locations.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025

When I put to the neighbours that Real Madrid is trying to soundproof the stadium, they chuckled.

From BBC • May 30, 2025

I spent mine in the soundproof booths of the music wing.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman