ventriloquist

noun

ven·​tril·​o·​quist ven-ˈtri-lə-kwist How to pronounce ventriloquist (audio)
: 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 adjective

Examples of ventriloquist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sock puppet was originally brought to life by ventriloquist and puppeteer Shari Lewis for the children's TV series Captain Kangaroo in March 1956. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 In the film’s climactic ending, we’re introduced to a story involving a ventriloquist dummy that set the stage for just about every inanimate-object-that’s-actually-alive film moving forward. B.j. Colangelo, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2024 Much of the first season of Goosebumps is focused on the books’ main villain, Slappy, an evil ventriloquist’s dummy who’s story arc is revealed in piecemeal, in both the books and this reboot of the television series. Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024 Todd seemed perfectly comfortable with the creation of alternate personae for ventriloquist purposes. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ventriloquist 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ventriloquist was circa 1656

Dictionary Entries Near ventriloquist

Cite this Entry

“Ventriloquist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ventriloquist. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

ventriloquist

noun
ven·​tril·​o·​quist ven-ˈtril-ə-kwəst How to pronounce ventriloquist (audio)
: 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

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