Definition

1. Noun:

   • A speech disorder involving involuntary repetitions or prolongations of sounds, syllables, or words, often accompanied by pauses or blocks: A stammer is a disruption in the normal fluency and time patterning of speech, characterized by these involuntary interruptions.

2. Verb:

   • To speak with involuntary repetitions or pauses, often due to nervousness, excitement, or a speech disorder: To stammer is to produce speech that is not fluent, with breaks and repetitions that are not under the speaker's full control.

Usage Examples

• Noun: He has had a noticeable stammer since childhood. The actor worked with a coach to overcome his mild stammer.

• Verb: She tends to stammer when she is nervous or put on the spot. "I... I d-don't know," he stammered in reply to the difficult question.

Advanced Usage

• "to stammer out": to say something with difficulty, producing a stammer.

Variants and Related Words

• Stammerer (noun): A person who stammers. The support group provides a safe space for stammerers.

• Stammering (noun/adj): The act or condition of stammering; characterized by stammering. Stammering can be exacerbated by stress. He gave a stammering explanation.

Synonyms

• Stutter (verb/noun): This is a very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "stammer," though some distinctions are made in clinical contexts.
• Falter (verb): To speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice, often due to a lack of confidence.
• Hesitate (verb): To pause before saying or doing something, which can be a component of stammering.

Related Phrases

• To have a stammer: To possess a chronic or habitual speech impediment involving stammering.

Notes on Meaning

• While "stammer" and "stutter" are often used synonymously in everyday language, some technical definitions differentiate them. A "stammer" may refer more broadly to disfluent speech involving hesitations, while a "stutter" might specifically emphasize sound repetitions. However, this distinction is not consistently applied, and the words are frequently treated as synonyms.
• The verb "stammer" can describe both a chronic speech disorder and a temporary state caused by strong emotion (e.g., fear, surprise).

Noun

1. a speech disorder involving hesitations and involuntary repetitions of certain sounds

Verb

1. speak haltingly
   • The speaker faltered when he saw his opponent enter the room