elective mutism

A form of selective mutism — A severe form of social anxiety disorder characterized by a total inability to speak or communicate orally in certain social settings.

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Meanings

nounelective mutism (uncountable)
  1. dateduncountableclinical psychologyDated form of selective mutism (“A severe anxiety disorder characterized by a total inability to speak in some social settings”).

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
selective mutism
Cite this entry
APA

elective mutism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elective%20mutism

MLA

“elective mutism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elective%20mutism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “elective mutism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/elective%20mutism.

Source: elective mutism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.