ventriloquy

noun

ven·​tril·​o·​quy ven-ˈtri-lə-kwē How to pronounce ventriloquy (audio)

Examples of ventriloquy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Liebe Hart gave the show a heart and a theology of its own, evoking alien romances and crafting small father-son dramas through song and ventriloquy. Luke Winkie, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2021 For all its transformation and ventriloquy, her work’s revelations are rooted in observation; epic frameworks illuminate frequently ugly truths. Hannah Aizenman, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2020 But Sofia Vergara may give the contestants a run for their money with her own ventriloquy talent. Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin ventriloquium, from Late Latin ventriloquus "person who appears to produce speech sounds from within his or her body (as during spirit possession or under control of a deity)" + Latin -ium -y entry 3 — more at ventriloquist

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ventriloquy was in 1584

Dictionary Entries Near ventriloquy

Cite this Entry

“Ventriloquy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ventriloquy. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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