high-functioning

American  

[hahy-fuhngk-shuh-ning] / ˈhaɪˈfʌŋk ʃə nɪŋ /

adjective

1. noting or relating to a person with a disability, chronic illness, or mental health issue who is able to fulfill more activities of daily living than others with the same condition.

   Psychiatrists called their child high-functioning during the autism assessment.

   It can be difficult for loved ones to spot the signs of high-functioning alcoholism.

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Usage

Both high-functioning and its less-common cousin low-functioning are frequently used in older literature to describe how much assistance an autistic person needs with activities of daily living. However, low-functioning can be demeaning, while high-functioning can be used to ignore a disability or illness and deny a person the help they need; thus, these terms are often considered offensive by many people in the autism community. They may also be considered offensive by those who are neurodivergent in other ways or who have chronic illnesses.

Etymology

Origin of high-functioning

First recorded in 1915–20, for the earlier sense “functioning at a high level”; 1985–90, for the current sense

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

high-functioning

I see countless patients, especially high-functioning women, who follow self-imposed meal plans with perfectionistic zeal—but who also report entire eating episodes they have no real memory of.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Mr. Paré-Poupart is in his element when describing the men with whom he’s worked, misfits all yet high-functioning pros in the mucky métier they’ve chosen for themselves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

They also have a high-functioning autistic son, and Salmon himself underwent hip replacement surgery last year.

From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2026

"By better understanding how different types of cathode materials degrade, we can help design a suite of high-functioning cathode materials for the world's energy needs."

From Science Daily ● Dec. 29, 2025

Maybe his medication had recalibrated his brain right away, and he was back to being a high-functioning Übermensch in no time.

From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram