deaf

deaf — adjective

1. not able to hear sounds, either completely or to a significant degree

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

not able to hear sounds, either completely or to a significant degree

Example

The school installed a special alarm system for Noor, who was born deaf.

passive: born deaf

Christopher's grandmother has grown increasingly deaf and now uses hearing aids.

collocation: increasingly deaf / hearing aids

Common collocations
  • born deaf
  • become deaf
  • partially deaf
  • completely deaf
  • profoundly deaf
  • deaf person
  • deaf child
  • deaf patient
Synonyms
  • hard of hearing

    milder and often preferred; suggests partial rather than total hearing loss

  • hearing-impaired

    formal or clinical term; some in the Deaf community consider it less respectful than deaf

Antonyms
  • hearing

    able to hear sounds normally

Common Mistakes

My grandmother is deaf to the radio.
My grandmother is deaf.
Being deaf to something means refusing to listen (figurative), not being physically unable to hear it.

2. not willing to pay attention to what someone says or to consider their requests,

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

not willing to pay attention to what someone says or to consider their requests, opinions, or needs

Example

Ramón complained about the noise, but his landlord was deaf to his requests.

pattern: deaf to + requests

Folake's manager remained deaf to the team's concerns about the new schedule.

Common collocations
  • deaf to requests
  • deaf to concerns
  • deaf to pleas
  • deaf to arguments
  • deaf to reason
  • deaf to criticism
  • deaf to warnings
  • remain deaf
  • stay deaf
  • deliberately deaf
Synonyms
  • oblivious

    implies unawareness rather than deliberate refusal; less intentional than deaf to

  • indifferent

    focuses on lack of concern or interest, not on refusal to listen

  • unresponsive

    describes the result (no reaction) rather than the attitude (refusal to listen)

Antonyms
  • receptive

    willing to listen and consider new ideas or requests

  • attentive

    actively listening and paying close attention

Grammar Patterns

deaf to + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently followed by the preposition 'to' and a noun phrase referring to the argument, request, or concern being ignored. 'Deaf to reason' and 'deaf to pleas' are common collocations.

Common Mistakes

The manager was deaf for our complaints.
The manager was deaf to our complaints.
The correct preposition is 'to', not 'for'.
She was deaf of his warning.
She was deaf to his warning.
Use 'to', not 'of'.
Idioms

(as) deaf as a post

idiom

Someone who is completely unable to hear anything.

My grandfather is as deaf as a post without his hearing aids.

You'll have to shout; she's as deaf as a post.

fall on deaf ears

idiom

When advice or a request is ignored by the person it was meant for.

His warnings about the storm fell on deaf ears.

Did your complaint fall on deaf ears at the office?

turn a deaf ear (to somebody/something)

idiom

To deliberately refuse to listen to what someone says.

The manager turned a deaf ear to our requests for better pay.

Why does she always turn a deaf ear to her children's needs?

deaf — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Deaf is the most direct and commonly used term for a person who cannot hear or has significant hearing loss. Hard of hearing is a milder alternative that suggests partial hearing loss rather than total absence; many people with age-related hearing loss prefer this term because it sounds less absolute. Hearing-impaired is a formal or clinical label often used in medical and legal contexts, but some members of the Deaf community consider it negative because it defines them by what they cannot do. For example, a medical report might describe a patient as 'hearing-impaired,' while that same person might say 'I am hard of hearing' in conversation or proudly identify as 'Deaf' (with a capital D) to express membership in a cultural and linguistic community.

deaf ↗hard of hearinghearing-impaired

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • born deaf
  • go deaf
  • deaf to

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

The word deaf comes from Old English dēaf, meaning 'unable to hear.' It traces back to Proto-Germanic *daubaz, which also gave rise to Dutch doof and German taub. The earlier Proto-Indo-European root *dʰewbʰ- carried the sense of being blunt, dull, or obtuse — which is also the origin of the figurative meaning 'unwilling to listen,' already present in Old English. The noun use ('the deaf' as a group) developed naturally from the adjective in Old English as well.