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
Poundcake, 4, and Milkshake, 5, are both deaf and endured horrifying experiences before finding their forever home.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Bano and her husband open a school for deaf children.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2025
The sense of relief this communion brought was heightened by the presence of two remarkable sign language interpreters at the side of the stage — using their faces and bodies to convey the feeling of the music for deaf guests in the third row.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Many deaf people use the term as a mark of identification with deaf and/or disability communities.
2.
—Mara Mills, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deaf
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Bano and her husband open a school for deaf children.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2025
The sense of relief this communion brought was heightened by the presence of two remarkable sign language interpreters at the side of the stage — using their faces and bodies to convey the feeling of the music for deaf guests in the third row.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Many deaf people use the term as a mark of identification with deaf and/or disability communities.
2.
—Mara Mills, Artforum, 1 Apr. 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 4 May. 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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