tongue-tie

1 of 2

verb

ˈtəŋ-ˌtī How to pronounce tongue-tie (audio)
tongue-tied; tongue-tying; tongue-ties

transitive verb

: to deprive of speech or the power of distinct articulation

tongue-tie

2 of 2

noun

: a congenital defect characterized by limited mobility of the tongue due to a short frenulum

Examples of tongue-tie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
The first episode zeroes in on a woman from Jefferson's younger days who left him publicly flummoxed and tongue-tied. — Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from tongue-tied

First Known Use

Verb

1555, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tongue-tie was in 1555

Browse Nearby Words

tonguetacked
tongue-tie
tongue-tied
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tongue-tie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tongue-tie. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

tongue-tie

noun
: a congenital defect characterized by limited mobility of the tongue due to shortness of the frenulum : ankyloglossia

More from Merriam-Webster on tongue-tie

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tongue-tie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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