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

Weldon is best known for pushing the thoroughly discredited theory that thimerosal, a preservative compound in some vaccines, causes autism.

From Salon

"He explained about his brother and his autism, his mother who is a carer and a special needs assistant and I genuinely felt for him," she told the paper.

From BBC

Her mother believes the test was geared towards diagnosing boys, which the service provider says it has now improved in line with increased understanding nationally of how autism presents itself in girls.

From BBC

She says the incidents - which included lashing out at staff - are related to his autism, which was recently diagnosed.

From BBC

One of his main false claims - repeated in a 2023 interview with Fox News, was that “autism comes from vaccines”.

From BBC