autism
[ aw-tiz-uhm ]
/ ˈɔ tɪz əm /
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noun Psychiatry.
(no longer in clinical use) a pervasive developmental disorder that commonly manifests in early childhood, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment: now considered one of the autism spectrum disorders.
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Origin of autism
OTHER WORDS FROM autism
au·tist, nounau·tis·tic [aw-tis-tik], /ɔˈtɪs tɪk/, adjectiveau·tis·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·au·tis·tic, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH autism
artistic, autisticWords nearby autism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use autism in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for autism
autism
/ (ˈɔːtɪzəm) /
noun
psychiatry a developmental disorder whose symptoms include difficulty in responding conventionally to people and actions and limited use of communication
Derived forms of autism
autistic, adjective, nounWord Origin for autism
C20: from Greek autos self + -ism
usage for autism
Rather than talking about an autistic or autistics, it is better to use phrases such as a person with autism and people with autism
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
Medical definitions for autism
autism
[ ô′tĭz′əm ]
n.
A pervasive developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication, by an extremely limited range of activities and interests, and often by the presence of repetitive, stereotyped behaviors. It is evident in the first years of life and is usually associated with some degree of mental retardation.infantile autism Kanner's syndrome
Other words from autism
au•tis′tic (ô-tĭs′tĭk) adj.The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for autism
autism
[ ô′tĭz′əm ]
A developmental disorder characterized by severe deficits in social interaction and communication and by abnormal behavior patterns, such as the repetition of specific movements or a tendency to focus on certain objects. Autism is evident in the first years of life. Its cause is unknown.
Other words from autism
autistic adjectiveThe American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for autism (1 of 2)
autism
[ (aw-tiz-uhm) ]
A serious disorder appearing in childhood and characterized by the child's refusal to relate to other people and severely limited use of language. The cause of autism in children is unknown, but researchers generally feel that it lies in a malfunction of the central nervous system, not in the way parents have treated them or in other aspects of their environment. The term is sometimes applied, more loosely, to adults who are extremely self-absorbed and who see things in terms of their hopes and fantasies rather than realistically.
Cultural definitions for autism (2 of 2)
autism
A psychiatric disorder marked by deficits in communication and social interaction.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.