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special needs

[ spesh-uhl needz ]
/ ˈspɛʃ əl ˈnidz /
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plural noun Sometimes Offensive.
the special educational requirements of those with learning difficulties, emotional or behavioral problems, or physical disabilities.
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Origin of special needs

First recorded in 1895–1900

usage note for special needs

See special.

OTHER WORDS FROM special needs

spe·cial-needs, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use special needs in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for special needs

special needs

special educational needs


pl n
  1. the educational requirements of pupils or students suffering from any of a wide range of physical disabilities, medical conditions, intellectual difficulties, or emotional problems, including deafness, blindness, dyslexia, learning difficulties, and behavioural problems
  2. (as modifier)special-needs teachers
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
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