Silent

Silent is an adjective that describes a lack of audible sound or noise. It can refer to environments, objects, or behavior where sound is absent or deliberately reduced. The term implies quietness, stillness, or the absence of disturbance.

Etymology traces silent to Latin silens meaning calm or quiet, passed into English through Old French. In linguistics and orthography, silent letters are letters that appear in spelling but are not pronounced, as in the words knife, subtle, or psychology.

In culture and media, the term is associated with the silent film era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when movies relied on visuals, facial expressions, and intertitles rather than dialogue. The Jazz Singer (1927) popularized synchronized sound in film, signaling the transition from silent films to talkies.

In science and technology, silent has several specific uses. In genetics, a silent mutation refers to a DNA change that does not alter the amino acid sequence of a protein. In consumer technology, silent mode or mute settings disable audible alerts and notifications, often used to avoid disturbance in public or quiet environments.

In social contexts, the silent treatment describes withholding communication as a tactic in interpersonal conflict. Silence can be intentional or involuntary and carries a range of social and cultural meanings, from privacy and contemplation to exclusion or protest.