ventriloquism

[ ven-tril-uh-kwiz-uhm ]

noun

1. the art or practice of speaking, with little or no lip movement, in such a manner that the voice does not appear to come from the speaker but from another source, as from a wooden dummy.

ventriloquism

/ ˌvɛntrɪˈləʊkwɪəl; vɛnˈtrɪləkwəl; vɛnˈtrɪləˌkwɪzəm /

noun

1. the art of producing vocal sounds that appear to come from another source

Derived Forms

• venˌtriloˈquistic, adjective
• ventriloquial, adjective
• venˈtriloquist, noun
• ˌventriˈloquially, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventriloquism¹

1790–1800; ventriloqu ( y ) (< Medieval Latin ventriloquium, equivalent to Late Latin ventriloqu ( us ) a ventriloquist ( ventri- ventri- + -loquus, derivative of loquī to speak) + -ium -ium ) + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of ventriloquism¹

C18: from Latin venter belly + loquī to speak

Example Sentences

It was like watching an Arab singer perform ventriloquism with the body of a blonde American.

From The Daily Beast

And now, a few months later, here I am, attempting the posthumous ventriloquism.

From The Daily Beast

And if I'm not actually alive, Kurt could bring my urnful of ashes and do ventriloquism.

From The Daily Beast

We now proceed to the consideration of a very remarkable acquirement of man, called Ventriloquism.

From Project Gutenberg

Very rarely can you find a mocking-bird without intelligence and mischief enough to appreciate his ventriloquism.

From Project Gutenberg

Although always a delightful form of entertainment, Ventriloquism is to most of us more or less of a mystery.

From Project Gutenberg

Ventriloquism and Conjuring always go together, and I'll be bound he's underneath the table now!

From Project Gutenberg

They were, apparently, determined to settle the question of ventriloquism beyond any future doubt.

From Project Gutenberg