autism

[ aw-tiz-uhm ]
/ ˈɔ tɪz əm /

noun Psychiatry.

a pervasive developmental disorder of children, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment: now considered one of the autism spectrum disorders.

Origin of autism

First recorded in 1910–15, for an earlier sense, and in 1940–45 for the current sense (in the phrase infantile autism); from German Autismus (in the earlier sense), from New Latin; aut- + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM autism

au·tist, nounau·tis·tic [aw-tis-tik], /ɔˈtɪs tɪk/, adjectiveau·tis·ti·cal·ly, adverbun·au·tis·tic, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH autism

artistic, autistic .
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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, noun

Word 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 adjective
The 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.