ventriloquist
UK: venˈtrɪl.ə.kwɪst | US: venˈtrɪl.ə.kwɪst
n. A performer who projects their voice so it appears to come from a puppet or dummy.
n. (Historically) Someone believed to speak from the stomach, often associated with divination or supernatural acts.
ventriloquist = ventri<belly> + loqu<speak> + ist<agent suffix>
- ventri (from Latin venter "belly")
- loqu (from Latin loqui "to speak")
- ist (agent noun suffix, indicating a person who performs an action)
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin venter (belly) + loqui (to speak), reflecting the ancient belief that ventriloquists projected voices from their stomachs. Over time, the term shifted from mystical connotations (e.g., oracle-like figures) to its modern entertainment context, where performers mimic distant or puppet voices. The suffix -ist standardizes it as a profession.
The ventriloquist entertained the crowd with a witty dialogue between his dummy and himself.
Ancient cultures sometimes mistook ventriloquists for spirits channeling voices.
She practiced for years to master the lip control required of a ventriloquist.
The ventriloquist’s act blurred the line between reality and illusion.
Modern ventriloquists often use technology to enhance their performances.