What does deafness mean?
Deafness is a noun referring to the condition of having little or no ability to hear, whether from birth (congenital deafness) or acquired later in life through illness, injury, aging, or prolonged exposure to loud noise. It ranges in severity from mild impairment to profound loss, and medical fields such as audiology distinguish among types like conductive, sensorineural, and mixed deafness. Beyond its literal meaning, the word carries a figurative sense: an unwillingness to listen, as in 'his deafness to advice,' echoing the older idiom 'to turn a deaf ear.' Derived from the Old English word 'dēaf' via Middle English, deafness has been part of the language for centuries. Today it appears frequently in medical, educational, and advocacy contexts, and it holds cultural significance within Deaf communities, where deafness is often regarded not merely as a disability but as a shared identity and linguistic heritage centered on sign languages such as ASL and BSL.
nounThe condition of lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing, either total or partial. It can also be used figuratively to mean an unwillingness to listen or pay attention.
- The physical condition of partial or total inability to hear.
- Figuratively, an unwillingness to hear or heed something (e.g., 'deafness to criticism').
"Prolonged exposure to loud machinery led to gradual deafness in his later years."
"Congenital deafness affects roughly one to three newborns per thousand in developed countries."
"His deafness to her repeated warnings ultimately cost him the deal."
Rarely pluralized; the singular is standard even when discussing multiple cases or types. When distinguishing varieties, writers typically say 'types of deafness' rather than 'deafnesses.'
"Clinicians distinguish several forms of deafness, each with different causes and treatments."
Beethoven composed some of his greatest masterpieces while battling progressive deafness — hearing his Ninth Symphony premiere without ever truly hearing it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of deafness
Deafness derives from the adjective 'deaf,' which comes from Old English 'dēaf,' meaning unable to hear. The Old English form traces back to Proto-Germanic '*daubaz,' cognate with words in other Germanic languages such as German 'taub' and Dutch 'doof.' The noun 'deafness' was formed in Middle English by adding the suffix '-ness' to 'deaf,' following a productive pattern for creating abstract nouns denoting states or conditions. Its Germanic roots are distinct from the Latin-derived vocabulary of medicine, which favors terms like 'auditory impairment' or 'anacusis.'
How deafness is actually used
In modern usage, many people prefer 'deaf' as an identity term (often capitalized as 'Deaf' within Deaf culture), and 'hearing loss' or 'hearing impairment' are common in medical and audiological contexts. The figurative sense ('deafness to pleas') is literary and somewhat less common today than the literal sense. The word is neutral in register, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
Easily confused with deafness
'Deathless' means immortal or undying, while 'deafness' refers to hearing impairment — they share similar spelling patterns but entirely unrelated meanings.