1
: having total or partial hearing loss
deaf people
the deaf community
also
: of or relating to people who have total or partial hearing loss
deaf culture
deaf education
2
: unwilling to hear or listen : not to be persuaded
… when men are determined on mutiny, they are deaf to reason.—
Washington Irving
Washington IrvingExamples of deaf in a Sentence
He has been deaf since birth.
She's completely deaf in her right ear.
He's going a little deaf so you'll have to speak up.
Recent Examples on the Web
Screenshots from a TikTok video retelling the heartwarming story of an owner finding her deaf dog after three days in the snow.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
To keep not only his identity a secret, but to keep all information exchanged secret, Ash uses the Tri-State Telecommunications Relay Service, a service that enables those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech issues to communicate over the telephone.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Being the first deaf contestant on America's Next Top Model, the then-25-year-old also became the show's second man to win, beating 2015 Miss Maryland USA winner Mamé Adjei.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The British poet’s account of growing up and, later, growing into his deaf identity works to untangle his knotty relationship to his hearing impairment, which is both partial and, by nature, invisible.
—Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaf
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Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
To keep not only his identity a secret, but to keep all information exchanged secret, Ash uses the Tri-State Telecommunications Relay Service, a service that enables those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech issues to communicate over the telephone.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Being the first deaf contestant on America's Next Top Model, the then-25-year-old also became the show's second man to win, beating 2015 Miss Maryland USA winner Mamé Adjei.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The British poet’s account of growing up and, later, growing into his deaf identity works to untangle his knotty relationship to his hearing impairment, which is both partial and, by nature, invisible.
—Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaf
Cite this Entry
“Deaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deaf. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deaf
adjective1
: wholly or partly unable to hear
2
: unwilling to hear or listen
deaf to all suggestions
deafness
noun
Medical Definition
deaf
adjective
: having total or partial hearing loss
deaf adults
also
: of or relating to people who have total or partial hearing loss
deaf education
deafness
noun
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