ventriloquism

[ ven-tril-uh-kwiz-uhm ]

/ vɛnˈtrɪl əˌkwɪz əm /

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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.

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Also called ven·tril·o·quy

[ven-tril-uh-kwee]. /vɛnˈtrɪl ə kwi/.

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

Words nearby ventriloquism

ventriculosubarachnoid, ventriculotomy, ventriculus, ventriduction, ventriloquial, ventriloquism, ventriloquist, ventriloquize, Ventris, ventro-, ventrodorsal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

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|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|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|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

Derived forms of ventriloquism

ventriloquial (ˌvɛntrɪˈləʊkwɪəl) or ventriloqual (vɛnˈtrɪləkwəl), adjectiveventriloquially, adverbventriloquist, nounventriloquistic, adjective

Word Origin for ventriloquism

C18: from Latin venter belly + loquī to speak

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