cerebral palsy

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a form of paralysis believed to be caused by a prenatal brain defect or by brain injury during birth, most marked in certain motor areas and characterized by difficulty in control of the voluntary muscles.

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cerebral palsy British  

noun

1. a nonprogressive impairment of muscular function and weakness of the limbs, caused by lack of oxygen to the brain immediately after birth, brain injury during birth, or viral infection

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cerebral palsy Scientific  

1. A motor disorder often caused by brain injury occurring at or before birth, characterized by muscular impairment and symptoms such as poor coordination, spasm, abnormal stiffness, speech difficulties, and sometimes paralysis. Some children with cerebral palsy have accompanying neurologic conditions such as epilepsy, learning disorders, and mental retardation.

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cerebral palsy Cultural  

1. A disorder marked by lack of muscle coordination and sometimes accompanied by speech defects. It is caused by brain damage present at birth or experienced during birth or infancy.

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Other Word Forms

• cerebral palsied
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cerebral palsy

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

My brother, who has cerebral palsy and is developmentally disabled, is two years older than I am.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Carers, parents and other young people with conditions like cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome are also welcome.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

Finn has cerebral palsy and goes to the Buddy Bear School.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

The injury can affect the brain's ability to communicate with the body, leading to conditions such as epilepsy, which causes seizures, or cerebral palsy, which affects movement and coordination.

From BBC • Nov. 6, 2025

“Ooh, here’s the part about you. Listen to this! ‘One outstanding member of the Spaulding team is Melody Brooks, an eleven-year-old who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper