neurodiverse

American  

[noor-oh-dahy-vurs, nyoor-] / ˌnʊər oʊ daɪˈvɜrs, ˌnjʊər- /

adjective

1. having or relating to atypical neurological traits and ways of thinking; not neurotypical.

2. consisting of or relating to people with a variety of neurological traits or ways of thinking.

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Other Word Forms

• neurodiversity
  noun

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Explanation

Someone who's neurodiverse has a brain that doesn't work in a typical way. It's common to describe someone with autism spectrum disorder as neurodiverse. People's brains function in widely different ways, and the etymology of neurodiverse reflects that fact: it comes from neuro-, "pertaining to the nervous system," and diverse, "differing from one another." Someone who's neurodiverse has neurological differences from the average person. This might mean they have difficulty communicating or using language; or that they have a learning disability or an attention disorder.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neurodiverse

The 2026 Mental Health and Social Inclusion study also found that stand-up “enables performers, including those with neurodiverse traits, to reclaim personal narratives and engage in peer-supported communities of practice.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Some of the young people treated at the clinics have mental health problems and learning disabilities; others are neurodiverse or autistic.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

How can providers get the information they need to understand their neurodiverse patients’ experience, and to give them the right kind of care?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026

"Our commitment to supporting neurodiverse guests and those with mental health needs remains," he said.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2026

A neurodiverse workgroup of researchers has identified crisis warning signs specific to autistic people, including a noticeable decline in verbal communication abilities.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025

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