1. the state of being unable to speak or make vocal sounds
Usage: medical
2. the condition of lacking power, influence, or representation in decision-making
Usage: political; social
3. the quality of speech sounds produced without vibration of the vocal cords
Usage: linguistics

Examples

• The patient’s voicelessness was caused by damage to her vocal cords.
• The community protested their political voicelessness in local government.
• Many marginalized groups struggle against systematic voicelessness.
• The doctor explained that his temporary voicelessness would heal with rest.
• In phonetics, the voicelessness of certain consonants affects pronunciation.
• The activist spoke about the voicelessness of the poor in policy decisions.
• Her voicelessness after the surgery lasted for several weeks.