cerebral palsy

noun

: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances

cerebral-palsied

sə-ˈrē-brəl-ˈpȯl-zēd 

ˈser-ə-, 

ˈse-rə-

adjective

Examples of cerebral palsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Born with cerebral palsy, he's required to undergo different kinds of occupational and physical therapy weekly in order to improve his quality of life. — Conor Wight, CBS News, 2 July 2026

Courtesy Cindy Stevens; Courtesy LaTisha Brown And in Ohio, where lawmakers are pursuing an aggressive Medicaid fraud crackdown, LaTisha Brown, 43, who has cerebral palsy, fears people with legitimate caregiving needs will be caught in the dragnet. — Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 June 2026

The Children's Special Services program, which is partially funded by federal funds and has been around for decades, covers medical costs for children in need who have serious medical conditions such as cancer, cerebral palsy, seizure diseases and diabetes. — ABC News, 25 June 2026

Now 29, Dallas is raising her three young sons while also caring for her 33-year-old sister, Tati, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and her 17-year-old brother, David. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cerebral palsy

noun

: a disease resulting from damage to the brain usually before or during birth and resulting in imperfect control of muscles, paralysis, and speech disturbances

Medical Definition

cerebral palsy

noun

: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances see ataxic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy

cerebral palsied adjective