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

• unautistic
  adjective
• autistically
  adverb

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 Autistic traits include being withdrawn, having difficulty with some forms of communication, and in some cases having extraordinary abilities in music or math.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

See Examples For:

autistic

“We have an autistic kid ... someone said that we could apply for him, but it’s hard,” said Blanca.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Similarly, research by King's College London last year suggested that around 90% of autistic people over 40 remain undiagnosed.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Hendrickx started working with autistic people in the education sector a quarter of a century ago and later took on a role diagnosing the condition.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

For her part, Brady suffers with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and says she wishes medical professionals were more aware of how certain conditions impact autistic women.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

Life William H. My hands are shaking really fast now. / am NOT autistic!

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine