aphonia

noun

apho·​nia (ˌ)ā-ˈfō-nē-ə How to pronounce aphonia (audio)
: loss of voice and of all but whispered speech
aphonic
(ˌ)ā-ˈfä-nik How to pronounce aphonia (audio) -ˈfō- How to pronounce aphonia (audio)
adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin aphōnia, borrowed from Greek aphōnía "speechlessness, mispronunciation," from áphōnos "voiceless, mute" (from a- a- entry 2 + -phōnos, adjective derivative of phōnḗ "voice, speech") + -ia -ia entry 1 — more at phono-

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aphonia was in 1654

Dictionary Entries Near aphonia

aphodus

aphonia

aphorism

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Aphonia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aphonia. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

aphonia

noun
apho·​nia (ˈ)ā-ˈfō-nē-ə How to pronounce aphonia (audio)
: loss of voice and of all but whispered speech
aphonic
-ˈfän-ik How to pronounce aphonia (audio) -ˈfō-nik How to pronounce aphonia (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on aphonia

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aphonia

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