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