Home › Glossary › Letter D

Deformity

Medical Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An abnormal shape or structure of part of the body. In poetry it may symbolise imperfection, social exclusion, or inner conflict.

Detailed Definition
Deformity refers to structural abnormalities in the body that alter its usual shape or appearance. Such conditions may arise from birth defects, injury, or disease. In literary works deformity often carries symbolic meaning beyond the physical condition itself. Poets may use the image to explore themes of difference, alienation, or the tension between outward appearance and inner character.
Example
Example in poetry:
The poet found beauty despite the physical deformity; Deformity was often used to symbolize inner corruption; He hid his deformity beneath layers of heavy cloth; The war left a deformity upon the landscape itself; She spoke against the stigma attached to deformity; The deformity of the tree made it unique to the artist.
Additional Notes
Deformity refers to abnormal bodily shape or structure, but poets often employ it symbolically to explore ideas of difference, alienation, or social judgement. Literature sometimes portrays characters with deformities as misunderstood outsiders. The term may also represent moral distortion or corruption beneath outward appearances. In Gothic or Romantic poetry deformity can evoke pity, horror, or compassion. Its use invites reflection on how societies define beauty, normality, and human worth.
Also Known As
Malformation Physical Deformity Disfigurement
Skip to main content