ventriloquist

noun

ven·​tril·​o·​quist ven-ˈtri-lə-kwist 

: one who uses or is skilled in ventriloquism

especially : one who provides entertainment by using ventriloquism to carry on an apparent conversation with a hand-manipulated dummy

ventriloquistic

(ˌ)ven-ˌtri-lə-ˈkwi-stik 

adjective

Examples of ventriloquist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The couple shares one daughter, Nina, an actress and ventriloquist. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 July 2023

From singers and dancers to ventriloquists, magicians and everything in between, here are the 40 show-stopping contestants who were drafted for America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023

Other notable acts featured in the teaser include ventriloquist Darci Lynne, country singer Drake Milligan, singer Kodi Lee, aerialist Aidan Bryant, country trio Chapel Hart, and magician Piff the Magic Dragon. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 11 Dec. 2023

But Bergen warns not to peek back, after one time spotting a creepy ventriloquist dummy. —Vulture, 3 Dec. 2023

Shari & Lamb Chop premiere The documentary, which follows ventriloquist Shari Lewis and her beloved sock puppet Lamb Chop, premiered in New York on Saturday. —Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Nov. 2023

Vienne has worked as both a puppeteer and a ventriloquist, and the piece required something of both. —Kally Patz, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2023

Semi-divine Helen, Zeus’ daughter, has a witchy seventh sense, a ventriloquist’s voice, and a pharmacy of magic potions. —Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023

Night of the Living Dummy – Things get weird and terrifying when a girl gets her hands on a ventriloquist's dummy. —Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin ventriloquus "person who appears to produce speech sounds from within his or her body (as during spirit possession or under control of a deity)" (from Latin ventr-, venter "belly, abdomen" + -i- -i- + -loquus, agent derivative of loquī "to speak") + -ist entry 1 — more at venter, eloquent

Note: The Late Latin word was coined as a translation of Greek engastrímythos.

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ventriloquist

noun

ven·​tril·​o·​quist ven-ˈtril-ə-kwəst 

: a person skilled in speaking in such a way that the voice seems to come from a source other than the speaker

ventriloquism

-ˌkwiz-əm

noun

Etymology

from Latin ventriloquus "ventriloquist," from ventr-, venter "stomach, belly" and loqui "to speak"; so called from the early belief that the voice is produced in the ventriloquist's stomach