stone-deaf

[stohn-def]

adjective

1. totally deaf.

stone-deaf

adjective

1. completely deaf

Usage

Use of this word to refer to people with serious hearing difficulties is potentially very offensive: preferred form: profoundly deaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone-deaf¹

First recorded in 1830–40; stone + deaf

Idioms and Phrases

Totally unable to hear, as in Poor Grandpa, in the last year he's become stone deaf. [First half of 1800s]

Example Sentences

They are pictures to the eye of the blind, heavenly music to the stone-deaf.

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"I am stone-deaf," she said, "but have learned to read what people are saying from the movement of their lips."

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"Any time this club calls me I'm stone-deaf."

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He resembled Jemmy Quark in being almost stone-deaf, and had a further bond of union with the gardener of Balladhoo in being musical.

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Of course, Mr. Quirk, the schoolmaster, could read, but, as we have seen, he resembled Hommy-beg in being almost stone-deaf.

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