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

These nonverbal characteristics are important for conveying emotion, and paralyzed people unable to move their facial muscles lose their ability to communicate in this critical dimension. — Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026

Skip Fisher was aware of his surroundings and understood what was occurring around him, his wife told the Tribune, but his Parkinson’s left him in a wheelchair and dependent on help for daily activities, nonverbal and unable to communicate. — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026

Earlier this month, a watchdog investigation found a Brooklyn school bus with six nonverbal children went missing for more than four hours last December, the Daily News was first to report. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026

Six nonverbal autistic students were missing for hours before arriving at a Brooklyn school more than four hours late after a substitute bus driver got lost, according to a city investigation. — Doug Williams, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

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