noun
deafness
DEHF-nuhs
noun
1
The condition of being unable, or only partly able, to hear.
"Her deafness developed gradually over several decades."
"Childhood deafness can affect how a person learns language."
2
A refusal to acknowledge or notice an obvious problem.
"His deafness to criticism eventually cost him the job."
How to Use Deafness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state of being deaf, literally or (figuratively) refusing to notice something.
Common pairings
hearing loss and deafness
congenital deafness
Word Forms
deafnesses plural
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Her _____ developed gradually over several decades.
Etymology
From Old English roots, formed from deaf plus the suffix -ness.