lisped; lisping; lisps
1
: to pronounce the sibilants \s\ and \z\ imperfectly especially by turning them into \th\ and \t͟h\
2
: to speak falteringly, childishly, or with a lisp
: to utter falteringly or with a lisp
lisper
noun
1
: a speech defect or affectation characterized by lisping
2
: a sound resembling a lisp
: a computer programming language that is designed for easy manipulation of symbols that represent data and instructions and is used extensively for work in artificial intelligence
Examples of lisp in a Sentence
Noun (1)
He spoke with a lisp.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tom Sapsford, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025
Not only the lisping child, but those whose frames are bowed down by the weight of time, worship around the Christmas shrine, and are willing devotees to its vivifying delights.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Dec. 2024
Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
There, she was asked whether the character's signature lisp was really something Olsen faced, or part of the character specifically.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lisp
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Verb
After pleading permission in a stereotypically lisping manner from Pompey the Great, his commander in chief, the cinaedus steps into battle.
—Tom Sapsford, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2025
Not only the lisping child, but those whose frames are bowed down by the weight of time, worship around the Christmas shrine, and are willing devotees to its vivifying delights.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
Back at Ventura’s hotel, Combs barged inside the room and beat Ventura, leaving her with a black eye, knots in her head, and a busted lisp, Ventura and her friend, celebrity makeup artist Mylah Morales, testified.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
There, she was asked whether the character's signature lisp was really something Olsen faced, or part of the character specifically.
—Angela Andaloro, People.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lisp
Cite this Entry
“Lisp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lisp. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lisp
1 of 2 verb
: to pronounce the sounds \s\ and \z\ in an imperfect way by giving them the sounds of \th\ and \t͟h\
lisper
noun
lisp
2 of 2 noun
: the act or habit of lisping
Medical Definition
lisp
1 of 2 intransitive verb1
: to pronounce the sibilants \s\ and \z\ imperfectly especially by giving them the sounds \th\ and \t͟h\
2
: to speak with a lisp
: to utter with a lisp
lisp
2 of 2 noun
: a speech defect or affectation characterized by lisping
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