audism

noun

aud·​ism ˈȯ-ˌdi-zəm How to pronounce audism (audio)
: discrimination or prejudice against individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
audist noun

Examples of audism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even in the warmth of that environment, she was not spared the cruelties of audism, a prejudiced view of deaf people that is expressed in ways subtle and overt. Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2021 Throughout her early schooling, Dr. Kannapell felt the sting of what is now known as audism — rejection of people who are deaf. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'audism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

aud- (as in audition entry 1, auditory entry 2) + -ism (after racism)

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of audism was in 1977

Dictionary Entries Near audism

Cite this Entry

“Audism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/audism. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

audism

noun
aud·​ism ˈȯ-ˌdi-zəm How to pronounce audism (audio)
: discrimination or prejudice against individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing
audist noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!