disfluency

American  

[dis-floo-uhn-see] / dɪsˈflu ən si /

Or dysfluency

noun

plural

disfluencies

1. Pathology. impairment of the ability to produce smooth, fluent speech.

2. an interruption in the smooth flow of speech, as by a pause or the repetition of a word or syllable.

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Etymology

Origin of disfluency

First recorded in 1975–80; dis- ¹ + fluency ( def. )

Example Sentences

Stuttering, which was renamed “childhood-onset fluency disorder” in the most recent “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” is more prevalent in men and those with a family history of disfluency.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

While 2 percent of children stutter, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, most outgrow this disfluency, often without intervention.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

While “Life on Delay” focuses on Hendrickson’s stammering life, this memoir astutely illuminates the complexity of disfluency more broadly.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

This powerful flipping of responsibility in disfluency is echoed by Austin Kleon, who is known for his guides to creativity.

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

He said that nothing I had said during our meeting indicated disfluency.

From Washington Post • Dec. 21, 2010