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
My mother is very deaf (Cochlear implant in one ear, hearing aid in the other) and uses this app constantly.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
Trevor Trevor, who is deaf, took a break from his search for a forever home at Green Dogs Unleashed to play on Team Ruff in Puppy Bowl XXI.
—Staff Author, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Wayne eventually retired from the band in 2012, following treatment for a brain tumor that left him deaf.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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
See all Example Sentences for deaf 
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.
R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
Trevor Trevor, who is deaf, took a break from his search for a forever home at Green Dogs Unleashed to play on Team Ruff in Puppy Bowl XXI.
—Staff Author, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025
Wayne eventually retired from the band in 2012, following treatment for a brain tumor that left him deaf.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025
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
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 23 Jan. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share