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Asperger's syndrome

British  
/ ˈæspɜːɡəz /

noun

  1. a form of autism in which the person affected has limited but obsessive interests, and has difficulty relating to other people

"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

Asperger's syndrome Scientific  
/ ăspər-gərz /
  1. A developmental disorder characterized by impairment in social interactions and repetitive behavior patterns. It is named after its identifier, Austrian psychiatrist Hans Asperger (1906–1980).


Etymology

Origin of Asperger's syndrome

C20: after Hans Asperger (20th century), Austrian physician who first described it

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The DSM expanded the definition in 1994, including a new diagnosis, Asperger’s syndrome.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 22, 2025

Elon Musk has also said he is on the spectrum, referencing Asperger's syndrome.

From BBC Feb. 2, 2025

At church, she met someone who was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a condition that today would be considered autism spectrum disorder.

From Slate Sep. 29, 2024

Woodward’s prior attorney said his client had Asperger’s syndrome and was torn about his sexuality.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 9, 2024

This book was inspired by the events at Virginia Tech as well as my own need to try to explain what it’s like for a child to have Asperger’s syndrome.

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

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