autism
noun
au·tism
ˈȯ-ˌti-zəm 
: a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized especially by difficulties in forming and maintaining social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate verbally or nonverbally, and by repetitive behavior patterns and restricted interests and activities
… the chief diagnostic signs of autism are social isolation, lack of eye contact, poor language capacity and absence of empathy …—
Vilayanur S. Ramachandran et al.
Vilayanur S. Ramachandran et al.called also autistic disorder
see autism spectrum disorderExamples of autism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then in early 2022, they were diagnosed with autism.
—Alix Strauss, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Additionally, conditions such as autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression are common among those with ARFID.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Since Black children with autism are also more likely to have one or more other intellectual disability diagnoses, access to services and deeper research into the experience of Black families with autism is critical.
—Wendy K. Chung, STAT, 16 Apr. 2024
An Ohio man is accused of fatally shooting his teenage daughter, then trying to pin the killing on his stepson with autism, police told news outlets.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
Two years later, he was diagnosed with autism, and Toni experienced different emotions about it.
—Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
The coalition seeks especially to challenge therapies that aim only to modify or control behavior, such as forcing people with autism to make eye contact, instead of understanding neurodiverse ways of adapting.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
In this study as well as in earlier ones, researchers have had little information on whether the parents’ themselves had autism, ADHD or an intellectual disability.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The average age of autism diagnoses of a child in Arizona is 4-years and 5-months old, according to nonprofit Autism Speaks.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Alix Strauss, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
Additionally, conditions such as autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression are common among those with ARFID.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Since Black children with autism are also more likely to have one or more other intellectual disability diagnoses, access to services and deeper research into the experience of Black families with autism is critical.
—Wendy K. Chung, STAT, 16 Apr. 2024
An Ohio man is accused of fatally shooting his teenage daughter, then trying to pin the killing on his stepson with autism, police told news outlets.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
Two years later, he was diagnosed with autism, and Toni experienced different emotions about it.
—Katie Mannion, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024
The coalition seeks especially to challenge therapies that aim only to modify or control behavior, such as forcing people with autism to make eye contact, instead of understanding neurodiverse ways of adapting.
—Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Apr. 2024
In this study as well as in earlier ones, researchers have had little information on whether the parents’ themselves had autism, ADHD or an intellectual disability.
—Linda Carroll, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
The average age of autism diagnoses of a child in Arizona is 4-years and 5-months old, according to nonprofit Autism Speaks.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near autism
Cite this Entry
“Autism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autism. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
autism
noun
au·tism
ˈȯ-ˌtiz-əm
: a disorder that is characterized especially by problems in interacting and communicating with other people and by doing some activities over and over again
Medical Definition
autism
noun
au·tism
ˈȯ-ˌtiz-əm
: a developmental disorder that appears by age three and that is variable in expression but is recognized and diagnosed by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns especially as exhibited by a preoccupation with repetitive activities of restricted focus rather than with flexible and imaginative ones
But more than 60 years after it was first identified, autism remains mystifying and stubbornly difficult to treat. About the only thing parents, doctors and policy makers agree on is that the best chance for autistic children to develop social and language skills is to enroll them in some type of intensive behavioral therapy.—Benedict Carey, The New York Times
Benedict Carey, The New York TimesAlthough the chief diagnostic signs of autism are social isolation, lack of eye contact, poor language capacity and absence of empathy, other less well known symptoms are commonly evident. Many people with autism have problems understanding metaphors, sometimes interpreting them literally. They also have difficulty miming other people's actions.—Vilayanur S. Ramachandran et al., Scientific American
Vilayanur S. Ramachandran et al., Scientific AmericanIn approximately 10% of patients, autism can be explained by genetic syndromes and known chromosomal anomalies …—Lauren A Weiss et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
Lauren A Weiss et al., The New England Journal of Medicinecalled also autistic disorder
see autism spectrum disorderLove words? Need even more definitions?
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