mute

Mute is a word with several related meanings in English. As an adjective, it denotes the inability to speak, whether from injury, illness, developmental condition, or voluntary silence. The form comes from Old French muet, from Latin mutus, meaning silent. In contemporary usage, people who do not speak may be described as mute, but many style guides encourage terms such as non-speaking or person who uses alternative communication to emphasize the person’s full humanity.

As a verb, to mute means to cause something to become silent or to reduce its sound. In electronics and media, muting is common via a mute button or control, which temporarily stops or lowers audio, often without altering the original recording. The noun form “mute” is used similarly, as in “mute button” or “mute the video.”

As a noun, mute also refers to a device used by musicians to dampen or alter the timbre of their instrument. Examples include brass mutes, violin or viola mutes, and guitar mutes. The term can also historically refer to a person who cannot speak; however, this usage is considered archaic or insensitive by many, and contemporary terminology generally avoids it in favor of respectful language that describes communication methods rather than a person’s identity.

See also mutism, the clinical term for persistent inability to speak, and mute in technology contexts, such as mute controls on devices and software.