1
: having total or partial hearing loss
deaf people
the deaf community
also
: of or relating to people who have total or partial hearing loss
deaf culture
deaf education
2
: unwilling to hear or listen : not to be persuaded
… when men are determined on mutiny, they are deaf to reason.—
Washington Irving
Washington IrvingExamples of deaf in a Sentence
He has been deaf since birth.
She's completely deaf in her right ear.
He's going a little deaf so you'll have to speak up.
Recent Examples on the Web
After all, being deaf doesn't seem to have held him back.
—Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Guests who are deaf or hard of hearing can request kits that include visual or tactile alerts for phone ringing or door knocks, phones are equipped for amplified sound, and cabin TVs have closed captioning features.
—David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024
Many of the people involved have worked at the Little Theatre of Manchester previously, and 10 of the 19 cast members are deaf or hard of hearing, according to Kate Brophy, who is co-directing the show with Niki Mallach.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Nov. 2024
Most people here are deaf and communicate using sign language.
—Mogomotsi Magome, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deaf 
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Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Guests who are deaf or hard of hearing can request kits that include visual or tactile alerts for phone ringing or door knocks, phones are equipped for amplified sound, and cabin TVs have closed captioning features.
—David Swanson, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024
Many of the people involved have worked at the Little Theatre of Manchester previously, and 10 of the 19 cast members are deaf or hard of hearing, according to Kate Brophy, who is co-directing the show with Niki Mallach.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Nov. 2024
Most people here are deaf and communicate using sign language.
—Mogomotsi Magome, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deaf
Dictionary Entries Near deaf
Cite this Entry
“Deaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deaf. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deaf
adjective1
: wholly or partly unable to hear
2
: unwilling to hear or listen
deaf to all suggestions
deafness
noun
Medical Definition
deaf
adjective
: having total or partial hearing loss
deaf adults
also
: of or relating to people who have total or partial hearing loss
deaf education
deafness
noun
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