tinnitus
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of tinnitus
First recorded in 1685–95; from Latin tinnītus “a tinkling,” noun use of past participle of tinnīre “to tinkle,” of imitative origin
Explanation
Tinnitus is a ringing, buzzing, or booming in your ears. It could be caused by Meniere's disease or by an ear infection. Tinnitus involves not only a loss of hearing, but also the addition of sounds in your head. Most commonly, tinnitus consists of a ringing in the ear. You can have tinnitus in one or both ears, and tinnitus can be temporary or permanent. Many rock musicians have tinnitus because years of being near extremely loud speakers has damaged their hearing.
Vocabulary lists containing tinnitus
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 30–November 5, 2021
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for February 11–February 17, 2023
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 13–August 19, 2022
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scientists have uncovered new evidence that serotonin, a brain chemical best known for helping regulate mood, may also worsen tinnitus, the persistent ringing or buzzing sound that affects millions of people worldwide.
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
"We also saw that animals then behaved as if they were hearing tinnitus. In other words, it's producing symptoms that we would expect to be experienced as tinnitus in humans."
From Science Daily • May 15, 2026
Moon incurred tinnitus following an injury to his eardrum in recent years, which impacted his ability to work.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026
Other common symptoms can include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, paler than usual skin and headaches, while some people could experience rarer symptoms like tinnitus, restless legs syndrome and hair loss.
From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025
Pain, deafness, tinnitus, and giddiness may be produced, and such reflex symptoms as coughing and vomiting have resulted.
From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
