autism

[ aw-tiz-uhm ]

noun

, Psychiatry.

1. a developmental disability of highly variable presentation, commonly characterized by social and communication differences, repetitive behaviors, intense specialized interests, and differences in sensory processing; autism spectrum disorder.
2. Sometimes classic autism. (no longer in clinical use) a developmental disability that commonly manifests in early childhood, characterized by repetitive or restricted behaviors, differences in understanding social interactions, and delayed development of linguistic and cognitive abilities: formerly contrasted with Asperger syndrome.

autism

/ ˈɔːtɪzəm /

noun

1. psychiatry a developmental disorder whose symptoms include difficulty in responding conventionally to people and actions and limited use of communication

Usage

Rather than talking about an autistic or autistics , it is better to use phrases such as a person with autism and people with autism

Derived Forms

• auˈtistic, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• au·tist [aw, -tist], noun
• au·tis·tic [aw-, tis, -tik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of autism¹

First recorded in 1910–15, for an earlier sense; coined in 1944 by Austrian-American psychiatrist Leo Kanner (1894–1981), for the current sense (in the phrase infantile autism ); from German Autismus (in the earlier sense), from New Latin; aut- + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of autism¹

C20: from Greek autos self + -ism

Example Sentences

Following Shore’s saying that if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism, the show’s creators thought it was important to portray how autism manifests in different ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Something that has always served him well in work he now knows to be another trait of autism - intense interests, also known as hyperfixations..

From BBC

Both have made claims that vaccines are linked to autism, despite the fact that this has been repeatedly debunked in scientific studies across several decades.

From Salon

These factors, as well as his autism spectrum disorder, had all affected his decision making, he said.

From BBC

Lawyers acting on behalf of a six-year-old boy, who has autism and other needs, applied to the High Court for a judicial review in July.

From BBC