mutism

noun

Save Word

mut·ism | \ ˈmyü-ˌti-zəm

Definition of mutism

: the condition of being unable to speak whether from physical, functional, or psychological cause

Examples of mutism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Federico Atehortúa Arteaga’s essay film connects the 1906 execution of four men charged with attempting to kill the president of Colombia, his mother’s mutism and the origins of Colombian cinema. — Peter Libbey, New York Times, "What’s on TV Monday: ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘The New Pope’," 9 Mar. 2020 After all, severe autism repels language, turns it chaotic or, in the case of autistic mutism, simply absorbs it wholesale, as a black hole does light. — Eli Gottlieb, chicagotribune.com, "In 'Shtum,' parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son.," 30 May 2017

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