autism spectrum disorder

American  

[aw-tiz-uhm spek-truhm dis-awr-der] / ˈɔ tɪz əm ˈspɛk trəm dɪsˌɔr dər /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. a developmental disability of highly variable presentation characterized by social and communication differences, repetitive behaviors, or a restricted range of interests, and which commonly manifests in early childhood.

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Etymology

Origin of autism spectrum disorder

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

autism spectrum disorder

Although the study centered on autism spectrum disorder, the approach could have wider applications.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026

Court documents describe Doe as a 30-year-old woman with autism spectrum disorder who struck up a connection with Glover on social media in 2015.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

But they are both diagnosed under the same broad umbrella of autism spectrum disorder.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025

This expanded criteria makes discussions about curing or preventing autism incredibly fraught, because the label autism spectrum disorder is now such a big tent.

From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2025

She said schools could find it difficult to support children as the number of diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder and other conditions had increased.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2025