1
: not able to hear
He has been deaf since birth.
a deaf child
She's completely/partially deaf in her right ear.
a disease that caused her to go deaf [=become unable to hear]
He's going a little deaf so you'll have to speak up.
(informal) My grandmother's a sweet old lady, but she's as deaf as a post. [=she's very deaf]
2
: not willing to listen to or consider something
—usually + to
They were deaf to all of our suggestions.
deaf to reason
Cite this Entry
“Deaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/deaf. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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