ventriloquism

American  

[ven-tril-uh-kwiz-uhm] / vɛnˈtrɪl əˌkwɪz əm /

noun

1. 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.

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ventriloquism British  

/ ˌvɛntrɪˈləʊkwɪəl, vɛnˈtrɪləkwəl, vɛnˈtrɪləˌkwɪzəm /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• ventriloquial
  adjective
• ventriloquially
  adverb
• ventriloquist
  noun
• ventriloquistic
  adjective

Etymology

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

Explanation

Ventriloquism is the art of using your voice so that it seems to be coming from a dummy or puppet, rather than from your mouth. You should practice your ventriloquism before the school talent show: I can totally see your lips moving. Someone who's an expert at ventriloquism is called a ventriloquist. This person has practiced until they've achieved the pinnacle of ventriloquism, the ability to "throw" their voice, so that it seems to be emanating from somewhere other than their own lips. Part of ventriloquism is learning to speak without moving your mouth. Another part is getting comfortable having a creepy-looking puppet sit on your lap and speak in your voice.

Example Sentences

Sharp offers some notes — “The puppet … don’t smoosh it down too much,” he tells Gurley, who’s doing a sketch about ventriloquism — before everyone takes a lunch break over catered falafel.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2022

Rankin describes the process of writing the book as an "act of ventriloquism" in trying to capture McIlvanney's writing style.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2021

“Now I’m happy to say I’ve never had a real job. It’s pretty much a natural progression, you go from racquetball to ventriloquism, doesn’t everybody do that?”

From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2021

It remains an exercise in ventriloquism, only the textual references have become deeply suspect.

From New York Times • Feb. 12, 2020

The raps were not created through ventriloquism as some had suggested.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock