autistic

American  

[aw-tis-tik] / ɔˈtɪs tɪk /

adjective

1. relating to or having autism spectrum disorder.

   The researchers are compiling advice on supporting wellness in autistic adults.

   She and her son are both autistic.

   We are a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community.

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noun

1. Also autist a person with autism spectrum disorder.

   It's just an opinion, but it's based on my own experience and conversations with fellow autistics.

Other Word Forms

• autistically adverb
• unautistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of autistic

First recorded in 1942; aut(ism) ( def. ) + -istic ( def. )

Explanation

To be autistic is to have a condition that affects a person's ability to communicate with others. Use the adjective autistic to describe someone with the medical condition called autism. Autistic traits include being withdrawn, having difficulty with some forms of communication, and in some cases having extraordinary abilities in music or math. It's not yet known what causes someone to be autistic. The word itself comes from the 1912 German term Autismus, a combination of the Greek autos, "self," and the adjectival ending istic.

Example Sentences

Several small studies have found that it helps alleviate verbal symptoms in some autistic children.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The survey found that 92 percent of respondents believe analyzing the autistic brain is extremely or very important.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

But his younger brother Jack, who is autistic and non-verbal, will only be eligible to apply sometime after 6 April when he finishes being home schooled.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

“An autistic individual may say that spinning quarters is a good distraction technique for them,” reads one tip.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

When Schultz repeated the experiment with autistic people, however, he found that they used their object-recognition area for both the chairs and the faces.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell