word deafness


nounPathology.
  1. inability to comprehend the meanings of words though they are heard, caused by lesions of the auditory center of the brain.

Origin of word deafness

1
First recorded in 1885–90

Other words from word deafness

  • word-deaf, adjective

Words Nearby word deafness

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use word deafness in a sentence

  • The higher impressive central paths are disturbed: centro-sensory dysphasia and aphasia, or word-deafness.

  • Kussmaul later named this abnormal condition word-deafness (surditas verbalis).

  • In other cases, we find, instead of this music deafness, the word deafness mentioned just above.

    Psychology | Robert S. Woodworth
  • The jargon talk that so often accompanies word deafness reminds us of the fact that speech is first of all auditory to the child.

    Psychology | Robert S. Woodworth
  • word deafness, a term often used as synonymous with auditory aphasia, is misleading and should be abandoned.

British Dictionary definitions for word deafness

word deafness

noun
  1. loss of ability to understand spoken words, esp as the result of a cerebral lesion: Also called: auditory aphasia

Derived forms of word deafness

  • word-deaf, 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