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

You took ventriloquism to the highest level humanly possible and made it cool.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s something troubling about these twin acts of ventriloquism, Parny’s poem and Ravel’s music.

From New York Times

What we call ventriloquism, the ancient Greeks called gastromancy, believing the ventriloquist was speaking from the gut on behalf of the dead to the living.

From New York Times

He would be a willing puppet for their ventriloquism.

From Seattle Times

They’re also masters of ventriloquism, capable of throwing their voices up to 13 feet.

From Washington Post