lisp

verb \ ˈlisp \

Updated on: 1 Mar 2018

Definition of lisp

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

: to utter falteringly or with a lisp

—

lisper

noun

See lisp defined for kids

Recent Examples of lisp from the Web

Paul Shaffer cackled from behind a keyboard in shades; baritoned redhead Alan Kalter introduced guests; there were videos of stupid pet tricks and a befuddled, lisping Larry Bud Melman.

— john clarke, HWD, "Bill Murray Stole the Show as David Letterman Accepted the Mark Twain Prize," 23 Oct. 2017
Cera is also doing a fun lisping impression of Brando while ponderously spouting off garbled nods to the actor’s filmography.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Twin Peaks: 20 Easter Eggs, References, and Callbacks You Might Have Missed," 23 May 2017
One of the little girls handed her a copy to inscribe and lisped her name.

— mary norris, The New Yorker, "A Day in Hiram," 2 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lisp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lisp

Middle English, from Old English -wlyspian; akin to Old High German lispen to lisp

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

lisp

noun

Definition of lisp

1 : a speech defect or affectation characterized by lisping

2 : a sound resembling a lisp

See lisp defined for English-language learners

Examples of lisp in a Sentence

He spoke with a lisp.

Recent Examples of lisp from the Web

Only the most hardcore Stranger Things fans among us might remember the scene in the very first episode where Dustin defends himself against school bullies making fun of his toothless lisp.

— carolyn l. todd, SELF, "'Stranger Things' Star Gaten Matarazzo Shares What Life Is Like With His Rare Bone Disorder," 26 Jan. 2018
Flopsy has a lisp, which makes her painfully self-conscious and kind of indignant at the same time.

— margot robbie, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Fashion Tale of Peter Rabbit," 18 Jan. 2018
Swift donned some heavy metal orthodontic gear and a horrible lisp in this clip to point out parents' horrible driving habits, like lecturing while driving and trying to grab a purse from the backseat while behind the wheel.

— allison stubblebine, Billboard, "Taylor Swift's 5 Best Moments on 'Saturday Night Live'," 30 Oct. 2017
Dustin Henderson: Mike’s adorable friend who has a lisp because of cleidocranial dysplasia. Lucas Sinclair: Another friend of the group who is the most skeptical of everything.

— matt miller, Esquire, "Everything You Need to Remember From Stranger Things Season One," 25 Oct. 2017
The villain was literally Samuel Jackson playing Russell Simmons, right down to the lisp.

— jason johnson, The Root, "Kingsman: The Golden Circle Turns the Drug War Into the Opioid Crisis for White America," 22 Sep. 2017
Yes, Biggie had a lisp and slurred — speech impediments that should have ensured that he’d be laughed out of early freestyle competitions, let alone be a viable candidate for a record contract.

— lorraine ali, latimes.com, "A&E documentary 'Biggie: The Life of Notorious B.I.G.' takes a fascinating — and authorized — look at the rapper's too-short story," 3 Sep. 2017
McAvoy has particular fun with Hedwig, a 9-year-old boy with a heavy lisp, a fondness for the expression etc., and a sinister agenda.

— jeffrey bloomer, Slate Magazine, "M. Night Shyamalan’s Split," 20 Jan. 2017
Kevin’s 23 distinct alters include the effeminate fashionista Barry; the creepy neat freak Dennis; the matronly den mother Patricia; and an inquisitive, hip-hop-loving 9-year-old with a lisp named Hedwig.

— michael o'sullivan, The Denver Post, "“Split” decision: James McAvoy is great; twist ending is ludicrous," 20 Jan. 2017

First Known Use of lisp

circa 1625

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

LISP

noun \ ˈlisp \

Definition of LISP

: a computer programming language that is designed for easy manipulation of data and is used extensively for work in artificial intelligence

Origin and Etymology of lisp

list processing

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1959

See Words from the same year

Other Computer-Related Terms

adware, flash, kludge, phishing, recursive, router

LISP Defined for English Language Learners

lisp

noun

Definition of lisp for English Language Learners

: a speech problem that causes someone to pronounce the letters “s” and “z” like “th”

LISP Defined for Kids

lisp

verb \ ˈlisp \

Definition of lisp for Students

lisped; lisping

: to pronounce the sounds \s\ and \z\ as \th\ and \t͟h\

lisp

noun

Definition of lisp for Students

: the act or habit of pronouncing the sounds \s\ and \z\ as \th\ and \t͟h\

Medical Dictionary

lisp

intransitive verb \ ˈlisp \

medical Definition of lisp

1 : to pronounce the sibilants \s\ and \z\ imperfectly especially by giving them the sounds \th\ and \t͟h\

2 : to speak with a lisp

transitive verb

: to utter with a lisp

lisp

noun

medical Definition of lisp

: a speech defect or affectation characterized by lisping

Learn More about lisp

See words that rhyme with lisp Spanish Central: Translation of lisp Nglish: Translation of lisp for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lisp

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lisp

Definition of lisp

lisper

Recent Examples of lisp from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lisp

Other Medicine Terms

lisp

Definition of lisp

Examples of lisp in a Sentence

Recent Examples of lisp from the Web

First Known Use of lisp

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

LISP

Definition of LISP

Origin and Etymology of lisp

Other Computer-Related Terms

LISP Defined for English Language Learners

lisp

Definition of lisp for English Language Learners

LISP Defined for Kids

lisp

Definition of lisp for Students

lisp

Definition of lisp for Students

Medical Dictionary

lisp

medical Definition of lisp

lisp

medical Definition of lisp

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