deaf

adjective

ˈdef How to pronounce deaf (audio)
 dialectal  ˈdēf
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
deafish adjective
deafly adverb
deafness noun

Examples 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guests who are deaf or hard of hearing can request stateroom kits that include a visual and tactile alert when someone knocks at the door, the phone rings, or an alarm sounds; stateroom TVs are equipped with closed captioning; and stateroom telephones have the ability to amplify sound. Susan B. Barnes, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025 Since 2022, the federal government has invested some $1.5 billion in the 988 project, including expanding access to services for Spanish speakers, LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing by creating sub-lifelines or sub-networks for those groups. Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 The empathetically observed drama explores the frustrations and the love between 12-year-old Anna (Siena Popović) and her deaf mother (Mariya Menner). Randy Myers, Mercury News, 18 June 2025 Wilson became deaf in his right ear from his father's abuse, a disability that would contribute to his depression later in life. Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for deaf

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deef, from Old English dēaf; akin to Greek typhlos blind, typhein to smoke, Latin fumus smoke — more at fume

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deaf was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deaf. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

deaf

adjective
1
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on deaf

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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