Asperger syndrome

[ as-per-ger sin-drohm, -druhm ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. (no longer in clinical use) a developmental disability characterized by repetitive behaviors, differences in understanding social interactions, and often, a narrow set of interests, but not involving delayed development of linguistic and cognitive abilities: formerly contrasted with autism, but now considered to fall under autism spectrum disorder.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Asperger syndrome¹

First recorded in 1970–75; named after Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger (1906–80), who described it in 1944

Example Sentences

Thunberg has Asperger syndrome, a developmental disorder, and has described it as a gift.

From BBC

Pankey’s lawyer, Anthony Viorst, told jurors that Pankey, diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, was a “jerk” to his ex-wife and others but was not a murderer.

From Seattle Times

“Jerk? Guilty as charged. Murderer? Not guilty,” said Viorst, who said Pankey was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, which Viorst previously said causes Pankey to process information differently and get involved in matters, especially true crime cases, to prove his “self importance.”

From Seattle Times

Pankey’s lawyer, Anthony Viorst, has argued that his client is obsessed with “true crime” mysteries and has Asperger syndrome, which causes his mind to process information differently and leads him to get “in middle of these things” to prove his own “self importance.”

From Seattle Times

Many times at conventions, kids will come up to my table when I’m signing photographs and tell me they have Asperger syndrome, and that when they were growing up, Data was the only character on TV they could relate to.

From Washington Post