What does devoice mean?
Devoice is a verb meaning to make a sound voiceless or, more generally, to remove or suppress a voice. In linguistics and speech technology, it refers to a sound produced without vibration of the vocal folds; the word is especially associated with consonants that can be either voiced or voiceless. Audio editors and speech-processing systems may use the term when a sound is deliberately altered to lack vocal-fold vibration. Figuratively, devoice describes silencing someone or depriving them of the freedom or authority to speak. This use often carries a critical implication, suggesting exclusion, repression, or a loss of influence. Although the word can be understood in everyday contexts, its technical use is more established. Devoice is related to voice and shares a broad linguistic history with words descended from the Latin word vox, meaning “voice.”
verbTo make a sound or voice voiceless, especially by eliminating vibration of the vocal folds. In figurative use, it means to strip someone of their voice, influence, or opportunity to speak.
- To make a sound voiceless, especially by preventing the vocal folds from vibrating.
- To remove or suppress a person's voice or figurative ability to express an opinion.
"The audio editor devoiced the final consonant to make the recording sound more natural."
"The phonetics program automatically devoices the consonant at the end of the recording."
"The committee's decision effectively devoiced the youngest member."
A devoiced consonant still counts as a sound—it simply makes no vibration in the vocal folds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does devoice come from?
Devoice was formed in English by combining the prefix de-, meaning “remove” or “undo,” with the noun voice. Voice comes through Old French from Latin vox, the Latin word for “voice.” The same Latin root also underlies words such as evoke and provoke, in which it refers to calling or summoning.
Related word forms
How devoice is actually used
Devoice is chiefly used in phonetics, phonology, speech processing, and audio editing. Its figurative use can suggest silencing, exclusion, or the removal of authority and may sound more formal or metaphorical than the literal term.
Easily confused with devoice
Devoice means to make a sound voiceless or silence someone figuratively, whereas devour means to eat or consume eagerly.
Devoice contains the word voice but means to remove vocal sound, whereas avoid means to stay away from or evade something.