spastic

[ spas-tik ]
See synonyms for spastic on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. Pathology. pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by spasm, especially tonic spasm.

  2. Slang: Offensive. awkward or clumsy.

noun
  1. Pathology. a person exhibiting spasms.

  2. Slang: Offensive. an awkward or clumsy person.

Origin of spastic

1
1745–55; <Latin spasticus afflicted with spasms <Greek spastikós of a spasm, equivalent to spas-, stem of spân to pull off, pluck, convulse + -tikos-tic

usage note For spastic

The slang use of spastic (or spaz ) to mean “clumsy” is perceived as insulting to people who are affected with muscular spasms.

Other words from spastic

  • spas·ti·cal·ly, adverb
  • spas·tic·i·ty [spa-stis-i-tee], /spæˈstɪs ɪ ti/, noun

Words Nearby spastic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for spastic

spastic

/ (ˈspæstɪk, spæsˈtɪsɪtɪ) /


noun
  1. an old-fashioned and now offensive name for a person who has cerebral palsy

  2. taboo, slang a clumsy, incapable, or incompetent person

adjective
  1. affected by or resembling spasms

  2. taboo, slang clumsy, incapable or incompetent

Origin of spastic

1
C18: from Latin spasticus, from Greek spastikos, from spasmos spasm

Derived forms of spastic

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012