nonspeaking

adjective

non·​speak·​ing ˌnän-ˈspē-kiŋ How to pronounce nonspeaking (audio)
1
: not involving spoken lines
a nonspeaking cameo role
"So I went and auditioned, too. And they liked me, and gave me a small nonspeaking part in a Bertolt Brecht play."Ted Danson
2
: not speaking or able to speak
Pound, who was then in a nonspeaking phase, sat on the couch in the living room all day Sunday, looking out at the view.Cynthia Zarin

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Finally, a shout-out to actor Ryan Cooper, who plays the dead man, for the most part a nonspeaking role. Gary Thompson, Philly.com, 15 June 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nonspeaking was circa 1851

Dictionary Entries Near nonspeaking

Cite this Entry

“Nonspeaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonspeaking. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

More from Merriam-Webster on nonspeaking

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Spell It

Hear a word and type it out. How many can you get right?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY