Slangora

deafie

An informal, and potentially sensitive, term for a deaf person.

ˈdɛ.fi129 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
2 definitions
Community

Definitions

#1·Apr 28, 2026

An informal, and potentially sensitive, term for a deaf person. Within the Deaf community it can carry an affectionate, in-group quality — a casual shorthand among people who share that experience. Used by outsiders, though, it can land as dismissive or offensive. Context and relationship matter enormously with this one; it's a word that belongs to the community it describes.

She called herself a deafie with a laugh — it was clearly her word to use, not ours.
Origin: Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents

Deafie means: An informal, and potentially sensitive, term for a deaf person. Within the Deaf community it can carry an affectionate, in-group quality - a casual shorthand among people who share that experience.. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

deafie means: An informal, and potentially sensitive, term for a deaf person. Within the Deaf community it can carry an affectionate, in-group quality - a casual shorthand among people who. Register: very informal, often derogatory or vulgar. Avoid in formal, business, academic, or polite writing. Even in casual speech the word can offend and is best left out of a learner's active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Was this helpful?

Comments

#2·Apr 27, 2026

(endearing, or, derogatory, slang) A deaf person.

Cluster: insult
Was this helpful?

Comments

For specific readers

Deafie means: An informal, and potentially sensitive, term for a deaf person. Within the Deaf community it can carry an affectionate, in-group quality - a casual shorthand among people who share that experience.. It is generally derogatory or offensive; worth a quiet word about how it lands on the person being described. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "deafie".

Add definition

🗺️About Regional & Other slang

Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "deafie" (D)

Browse all slang words starting with D.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related