nonverbal

adjective

non·​ver·​bal ˌnän-ˈvər-bəl 

: not verbal: such as

a

: not involving or using words

Still, this pope projects eloquence in his off-the-cuff remarks or even during the long interludes between speeches when he is engaged in nonverbal communication with individuals and crowds.

—John S. Driscoll

… psychological aggression refers to both coercive verbal behaviors (e.g., insulting or swearing at partner) and coercive nonverbal behaviors that are not directed at the partner's body (e.g., slamming doors or smashing objects).

—Alan E. Kazdin et al.

b

: being other than verbal

… some hidden, nonverbal quality of her life that could only be alluded to in the act of painting.

—Diane Armitage

c

: lacking or appearing to lack the ability to engage in speech

She finds she can communicate with nonverbal children using drum beats, for example.

—Robert S. Greenberger

nonverbally

ˌnän-ˈvər-bə-lē 

adverb

Examples of nonverbal in a Sentence

Facial expressions are very important for nonverbal communication.

Recent Examples on the Web

Research consistently shows that nonverbal cues significantly impact how others perceive your message. —Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

For some people, profound autism means being nonverbal and having significant intellectual disabilities. —Lauran Neergaard, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025

The set also featured other nonverbal cues to make things easier. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025

On March 9, just before 4:30 p.m., dispatchers received a report of a nonverbal child who ran away from his family at a supermarket in the 9600 block of Mission Gorge Road, leaving relatives unable to find him, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Monday, April 28. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonverbal

• preverbal
• gerbil
• herbal
• verbal

Kids Definition

nonverbal

adjective

non·​ver·​bal (ˈ)nän-ˈvər-bəl 

1

: being other than verbal

nonverbal symbols

2

: involving little use of language

nonverbal tests

nonverbally

-bə-lē 

adverb