Definition

The art of speaking without moving the lips, often used in performances where a person makes it seem like a puppet is speaking.

Example

The magician amazed the audience with his skill in ventriloquy, making the puppet seem alive.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a ventriloquy performance live?

No, I haven’t, but it sounds really interesting!

I went to one last week, and it was amazing how the puppets seemed so real.

That’s awesome! I’d love to see that sometime.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Ventriloquy → It is formed from "ventr-" (from Latin "venter", meaning belly) and "loqui" (meaning to speak). The word refers to the act of speaking from the belly, as ventriloquists appear to speak without moving their lips, making it seem as if the voice is coming from elsewhere.

Memory Tip

Think of 'belly' ('ventr-') as the source of the voice, and 'loqui' means to speak. This helps you remember that ventriloquy is about speaking as if from the belly.

Visually Confused Words