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

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Etymology

Origin of autistic

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

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 Autistic traits include being withdrawn, having difficulty with some forms of communication, and in some cases having extraordinary abilities in music or math.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

Her hopes were raised when an image of him was sent through by a woman named Melissa, who claimed to have fed her cat and wanted reward money for her autistic grandchildren.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

While neurotypical brains naturally filter out much of the sensory and social noise they don’t need, autistic brains take more of it in and have to consciously decide what to use and what to ignore.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

The world often feels like it’s turned up to 11 and the behaviors common among autistic people help us cope.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026

Sanchez settled in Tampa where she worked with autistic children and the elderly.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

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

From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine

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