# deaf

/ˈdɛf/ (US) · /dˈɛf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deaf
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unable to hear

adjective · CEFR A2

unable to hear anything, or unable to hear very well.

For teachers: lacking the power of hearing or having a significant hearing impairment.

- He has been deaf since birth and uses sign language to communicate.
- The clinic provides specialised support for children who are born deaf or lose their hearing in early childhood.

### 2. relating to the community

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the community of people who are deaf and their culture.

For teachers: pertaining to the community, culture, and sign languages of people with hearing impairments; often capitalised as 'Deaf' in this context.

- She is a student of Deaf culture and is learning British Sign Language.
- The documentary explores the unique challenges and vibrant traditions within the Deaf community across different generations.

### 3. unwilling to listen

adjective · CEFR B2

refusing to listen to someone's ideas, advice, or requests.

For teachers: unwilling to be persuaded or to acknowledge a plea or argument; determinedly inattentive.

- The manager was deaf to our complaints about the broken air conditioning.
- Despite the overwhelming evidence presented by the scientists, the committee remained deaf to the urgent need for environmental reform.

### 4. the community

noun · CEFR B1

people who cannot hear, usually referred to as 'the deaf'.

For teachers: a collective noun referring to people who have hearing impairments.

- The new law aims to provide better access to public services for the deaf.
- Advocacy groups for the deaf have campaigned for decades to ensure that television broadcasts include high-quality closed captioning.

Usage: Always used with the definite article 'the' to refer to the group as a whole.

## Examples

- He has been deaf since he was a small child.
- The theater provides special headsets for people who are hard of hearing or deaf.
- Advocates for the community argue that being Deaf is a cultural identity rather than a medical disability, centered on the use of sign language.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.