autism

[ aw-tiz-uhm ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. a developmental disability of highly variable presentation, commonly characterized by social and communication differences, repetitive behaviors, intense specialized interests, and differences in sensory processing; autism spectrum disorder.
2. Sometimes classic autism. (no longer in clinical use) a developmental disability that commonly manifests in early childhood, characterized by repetitive or restricted behaviors, differences in understanding social interactions, and delayed development of linguistic and cognitive abilities: formerly contrasted with Asperger syndrome.

autism

/ ˈɔːtɪzəm /

noun

1. psychiatry a developmental disorder whose symptoms include difficulty in responding conventionally to people and actions and limited use of communication

Usage

Rather than talking about an autistic or autistics , it is better to use phrases such as a person with autism and people with autism

Derived Forms

• auˈtistic, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• au·tist [aw, -tist], noun
• au·tis·tic [aw-, tis, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of autism¹

First recorded in 1910–15, for an earlier sense; coined in 1944 by Austrian-American psychiatrist Leo Kanner (1894–1981), for the current sense (in the phrase infantile autism ); from German Autismus (in the earlier sense), from New Latin; aut- + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of autism¹

C20: from Greek autos self + -ism

Example Sentences

Today, Sunday, the cast will perform a softened, “autism-friendly” version of the production for those on the spectrum.

From The Daily Beast

Claiming to be useful against Ebola, autism, and cancer, Young Living Essential Oils came under fire from the FDA.

From The Daily Beast

They apparently took that as a sign of suspicious activity, even though that can be a hallmark of people on the autism spectrum.

From The Daily Beast

Jolly somehow finds the time to also manage a restaurant and help kids who have Autism and Down syndrome ride horses.

From The Daily Beast

Renowned livestock specialist and autism advocate Temple Grandin brought her unique intellect and wit to Reddit.

From The Daily Beast

Psychedelics have also sometimes been used for the terminally ill and in certain cases of autism.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not wish to go further than this into the abnormal and extreme types of religious autism; trance, ecstasy and so forth.

From Project Gutenberg