neurotypical

American  

[noor-oh-tip-i-kuhl, nyoor] / ˌnʊər oʊˈtɪp ɪ kəl, ˌnjʊər- /

adjective

1. relating to or showing typical neurological behavior and development: NT

   She has one dyslexic and one neurotypical child.

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noun

1. a neurotypical person.

Etymology

Origin of neurotypical

First recorded in 1990–95; neuro- + typical

Explanation

Neurotypical describes someone who isn't autistic and doesn't have any developmental disorders that affect their nervous system. The term neurotypical is a relatively new way to describe people who don't have conditions like ADHD, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, or autism. It's much more accurate than simply using a word like "normal," since it acknowledges the enormous variation in the way human brains work. If you're neurotypical, you think, reason, and understand very differently from the way your autistic friend does. Neuro- means "pertaining to the nervous system," and typical means "common, average, or regular."

Example Sentences

"The opportunities available to neurotypical school leavers aged 18 are second to none in Northern Ireland," Ryan said.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Autistic people of all ages are significantly more likely than their neurotypical peers to be diagnosed with mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Including these neurodivergent participants also provided a wider range of IQ scores, with some scoring above average, allowing for a more comprehensive comparison than studying neurotypical individuals alone.

From Science Daily • Oct. 29, 2025

"I just kept thinking about what my life would look like if I was neurotypical."

From Barron's • Oct. 24, 2025

In other words, we shouldn’t take RFK Jr.’s fearmongering at face value and adopt his seeming position that the average autistic person is highly disabled or somehow living a worse life than a neurotypical person.

From Slate • Sep. 25, 2025