taciturn

Taciturn is an adjective used to describe a person who tends to speak very little or is habitually silent. A taciturn individual tends to speak only when necessary, often giving brief or guarded replies.

Etymology and usage history: The word derives from Old French taciturne, from Latin tacitus meaning silent or implied. The English form entered in the early modern period. The term emphasizes habitual silence rather than a momentary quiet.

Usage notes: Taciturn is commonly used in neutral or mildly evaluative contexts to describe personality, demeanor, and communication style. It can convey respect, self-control, or reserve, but may also be read as aloofness, shyness, or unfriendliness depending on tone and context. It is not interchangeable with laconic, which refers to conciseness of speech, nor with reticent, which implies reluctance to speak due to caution or fear.

In literature and culture: Taciturn is frequently used to describe characters who reveal their depth through actions rather than dialogue. It appears in contemporary writing as well as classical criticism to convey mood, atmosphere, or a sense of gravity around a speaker who chooses discretion over conversation.

Not a clinical term: Taciturn is a descriptive trait in everyday language and literary critique rather than a medical or psychological diagnosis.

See also: laconic, reticent, reserved.