deaf

adjective

ˈdef 

 dialectal  ˈdēf

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

deafish

ˈde-fish 

adjective

deafly adverb

deafness noun

Examples 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

Kim, the Korean American artist, who is deaf, shared in an email that the billboard reflected personal frustrations. —Travis Diehl, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Older train cars often fail to provide reliable audible announcements, while visual announcements for D/deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers remain insufficient. —Gian Carlo Pedulla, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025

Before taking on the life story of the famous disability rights advocate and humanitarian who was blind and deaf, Hamilton had made a name for herself in theater thanks to her acting, songwriting and playwriting talents. —Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2024

After all, being deaf doesn't seem to have held him back. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deef, from Old English dēaf; akin to Greek typhlos blind, typhein to smoke, Latin fumus smoke — more at fume

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deaf

• as deaf as a post
• deaf-aid
• deaf-mute
• fall on deaf ears
• go deaf
• stone-deaf
• struck deaf/blind
• the deaf
• tone-deaf
• turn a deaf ear

Kids Definition

deaf

adjective

ˈdef 

1

: wholly or partly unable to hear

2

: unwilling to hear or listen

deaf to all suggestions

deafness noun

Medical Definition

deaf

adjective

ˈdef 

: 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