cerebral palsy

American  

noun

Pathology.

• cerebral palsies
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• cerebral palsied
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cerebral palsies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cerebral palsy

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cerebral palsy

He said his son has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder, and relies on assistance to live with dignity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

Mr Hayayei, who had cerebral palsy, died at the scene.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

White and her daughter, who has cerebral palsy, were waiting in the bay for her husband to bring his car around when Mackay arrived for a consultation with a spinal surgeon.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

Vicky was diagnosed with both quadriplegic and athetoid cerebral palsy at birth, and Sarah, the eldest of four siblings, recalls early life being a "constant battle".

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

The medical personnel were trained to handle drug overdoses and minor injuries, and knew very little about cerebral palsy.

From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar