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

Even more moving is a nonverbal montage of Matthew arriving at his modest childhood home. —Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025

Though the other animals talk, Dog Man is nonverbal; his barks and howls are effective, and they are provided by writer/director Peter Hastings himself. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 3 Feb. 2025

Many community members speak fluently or hold jobs in the community, while others may be nonverbal or require intensive medical care. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025

They are also asked to vocalize, breathing into microphones and uttering nonverbal syllables. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

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