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

Physical sessions provide a richer sensory experience allowing for a full bodily immersion and enabling participants to extract information from nonverbal communication. —Tomoko Yokoi, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024

Paul The Bear, set in an English seaside town, will include a cast of real people and puppet animals and feature a nonverbal lead. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Oct. 2024

The ability to read subtle nonverbal cues, even through virtual interfaces, and to create psychological safety in teams will be crucial for driving innovation and productivity. —Bernard Marr, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

My brother is autistic and nonverbal, and my mom needed to be home to help my brother throughout the summer. —Nicole Dieker, Vox, 26 July 2024

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