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retardation

[ ree-tahr-dey-shuhn ]
/ ˌri tɑrˈdeɪ ʃən /
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See synonyms for retardation on Thesaurus.com
noun
the act of retarding or state of being retarded.
something that retards; hindrance.
Usually Offensive. slowness or limitation in intellectual understanding and awareness, emotional development, academic progress, etc.See also intellectual disability, mental retardation.
Music. a form of suspension that is resolved upward.
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Also re·tard·ment [ri-tahrd-muhnt] /rɪˈtɑrd mənt/ (for defs. 1, 2) .

Origin of retardation

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English retardacioun, from Latin retardātiōn- (stem of retardātiō ), equivalent to retardāt(us) (see retard, -ate1) + -iōn- noun suffix (see -ion)

usage note for retardation

See retarded.

OTHER WORDS FROM retardation

Words nearby retardation

retaliation, retaliatory, retard, retardant, retardate, retardation, retarded, retarded dentition, retardee, retarder, retarget
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to retardation

adjournment, bind, check, cunctation, dawdling, demurral, detainment, detention, discontinuation, downtime, filibuster, hindrance, holdup, impediment, interval, jam, lag, lingering, logjam, moratorium

British Dictionary definitions for retardation

retardation

less commonly retardment (rɪˈtɑːdmənt)

/ (ˌriːtɑːˈdeɪʃən) /
noun
the act of retarding or the state of being retarded
something that retards; hindrance
the rate of deceleration
psychiatry the slowing down of mental functioning and bodily movement

Derived forms of retardation

retardative or retardatory, adjective
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 retardation

retardation
[ rē′tär-dā′shən ]
n.
The condition of being relatively slow in mental, emotional, or physical development.
The extent to which something is held back or delayed.
Mental retardation.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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