What does tinnitus mean?
Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source, often described as ringing, buzzing, humming, hissing, or clicking in one or both ears. It is a symptom rather than a disease in itself and can accompany hearing loss, ear injury, age-related changes, certain medications, or exposure to loud noise. Some people experience brief episodes, while others have a persistent condition that affects concentration, sleep, and quality of life. In everyday English, tinnitus refers both to the sensation and, informally, to the medical condition associated with it. The word is also used figuratively when a sound is said to ring in someone’s ears. Although tinnitus can be difficult to treat, management may include protecting hearing, treating contributing conditions, sound therapy, and behavioural interventions designed to reduce its impact.
nounTinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, humming, or other sounds without a corresponding external sound source. It is commonly experienced in one or both ears and may be a symptom of hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, or another medical condition.
- The perception of ringing, buzzing, humming, or other sounds in the ears when no corresponding external sound is present.
"After years of working in a noisy workshop, he began experiencing tinnitus in his left ear."
"She sought medical advice after persistent tinnitus disrupted her sleep."
"For many people, tinnitus becomes more noticeable in a quiet environment."
The plural is uncommon, and tinnitus is also regularly used as an invariant plural in formal and medical writing.
"The clinic provides treatment options for patients with severe tinnituses."
Tinnitus can turn the silence of a quiet room into a private concert.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of tinnitus
Tinnitus entered English from New Latin in the early 19th century. The Latin noun tinnitus means “ringing” or “tinkling” and derives from tinnire, “to ring” or “to tinkle.” The same root appears in words such as tintinnabulum and tintinnabulation, which refer to a ringing or tinkling sound.
How tinnitus is actually used
The expression is primarily medical but is also used in general conversation. Specialists may distinguish subjective tinnitus, heard only by the affected person, from objective tinnitus, which can also be detected externally.