ventriloquism

[ ven-tril-uh-kwiz-uhm ]

noun

the art or practice of speaking, with little or no lip movement, in such a manner that the voice does not appear to come from the speaker but from another source, as from a wooden dummy.

Origin of ventriloquism

1790–1800; ventriloqu(y) (<Medieval Latin ventriloquium, equivalent to Late Latin ventriloqu(us) a ventriloquist (ventri-ventri- + -loquus, derivative of loquī to speak) + -ium-ium) + -ism

Also called ven·tril·o·quy [ven-tril-uh-kwee]. /vɛnˈtrɪl ə kwi/.

Words Nearby ventriloquism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ventriloquism in a sentence

It was like watching an Arab singer perform ventriloquism with the body of a blonde American.
Boston Irish Girl Jennifer Grout Is The Unexpected Star Of ‘Arabs Got Talent’ | Michael Pizzi | December 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
And now, a few months later, here I am, attempting the posthumous ventriloquism.
Requiem for a Tough Guy | Kurt Andersen | June 3, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
And if I'm not actually alive, Kurt could bring my urnful of ashes and do ventriloquism.
Requiem for a Tough Guy | Kurt Andersen | June 3, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
We now proceed to the consideration of a very remarkable acquirement of man, called ventriloquism.
The Book of Curiosities | I. Platts
Very rarely can you find a mocking-bird without intelligence and mischief enough to appreciate his ventriloquism.
Bird Neighbors | Neltje Blanchan

Although always a delightful form of entertainment, ventriloquism is to most of us more or less of a mystery.
Magic | Ellis Stanyon
ventriloquism and Conjuring always go together, and I'll be bound he's underneath the table now!
In Brief Authority | F. Anstey
They were, apparently, determined to settle the question of ventriloquism beyond any future doubt.
The Missing Link in Modern Spiritualism | A. Leah Underhill

British Dictionary definitions for ventriloquism

ventriloquism

ventriloquy

/ (vɛnˈtrɪləˌkwɪzəm) /

noun

the art of producing vocal sounds that appear to come from another source

Origin of ventriloquism

C18: from Latin venter belly + loquī to speak

Derived forms of ventriloquism

ventriloquial (ˌvɛntrɪˈləʊkwɪəl) or ventriloqual (vɛnˈtrɪləkwəl), adjective
ventriloquially, adverb
ventriloquist, noun
ventriloquistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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