Tinnitus Meaning and Definition

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Tinnitus

Pronunciation

/tɪˈnaɪtəs/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A ringing, buzzing, or other persistent sound in the ears that is not caused by an external source and is not a result of ear injury or infection, often a symptom of auditory processing disorders or some medical conditions.

Examples

  • After the concert, Sarah experienced tinnitus in her left ear.
  • The doctors were unsure what was causing John’s tinnitus, so they recommended further testing.

Synonyms

  • Ringing in the ears
  • Buzzing ears
  • Auditory hallucination

Antonyms

  • Quiet ears
  • Silent hearing

Etymology

The word “tinnitus” comes from the Latin word “tinnire”, meaning “to ring”.

Tinnitus is often described as a ringing or buzzing sound, but it can also take the form of hissing, whirring, or whooshing sounds.

Cultural References

Tinnitus is mentioned in the movie “The Silence” (2019) and the novel “The Three-Body Problem” (2014) by Liu Cixin.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Ringing in one’s ears” is a common idiomatic expression meaning a warning or a sense of impending doom.

Related Words or Phrases

  • Auditory processing disorder
  • Auditory hallucination
  • Vestibular disorder

Collocations

  • Tinnitus and hearing loss
  • Tinnitus and stress

Frequency of Use

Tinnitus is often a common issue reported among some people, but its prevalence can vary widely depending on factors such as age, noise exposure, and medical conditions.

Common Misspellings

  • Tinnitous
  • Tinnitis

Related Words