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retardation
[ ree-tahr-dey-shuhn ]
/ ˌri tɑrˈdeɪ ʃən /
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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
usage note for retardation
See retarded.
OTHER WORDS FROM retardation
Words nearby retardation
retaliation, retaliatory, retard, retardant, retardate, retardation, retarded, retardee, retarder, retarget, retch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
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, adjectiveCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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