Meanings
nounsituational mutism (uncountable)
- rareuncountableselective mutism.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Coined as a more accurate term for the disorder, since people with selective/situational mutism do not choose to be silent; rather, the condition is an anxiety disorder that inhibits speech in certain situations.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
situational mutism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/situational%20mutism
MLA
“situational mutism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/situational%20mutism. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “situational mutism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/situational%20mutism.
Source: situational mutism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.