Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

devoice

verb

/dɪˈvɔɪs/

Definition

To remove the voice or voicing from a sound.

Examples

The speaker had to devoice the final consonant to meet the phonetic requirements.
In some dialects, the word ‘have’ is often devoiced when spoken quickly.
Linguists study how devoice can change the meaning of words in different languages.

Meaning

In linguistics, ‘devoice’ refers to the process of turning a voiced sound (where the vocal cords vibrate) into a voiceless sound (where they do not vibrate). This can happen in certain phonetic contexts, often altering the way a word is pronounced.