noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈdɛfnəs/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D EH1 F N AH0 S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The condition of being deaf; the lack or loss of the ability to hear.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Lack of knowledge or refusal to admit a particular problem, issue, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, figuratively, uncountable
Examples
their deafness to her cries
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
partial or complete loss of hearing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
