au·tis·tic
ȯ-ˈti-stik 
: of, relating to, or marked by autism or autism spectrum disorder
autistic behavior
autistic children
Examples of autistic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
In one case ProPublica and WPLN investigated, an autistic teenager with an intellectual disability told his teacher that his backpack would blow up if anyone touched it.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2026
Sarah Kurchak, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
One of our children was high-functioning autistic.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autistic
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Adjective
Rivera, who lives in South Gate, has a 6-year-old daughter who is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a 16-year-old son who is autistic and nonverbal.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
In one case ProPublica and WPLN investigated, an autistic teenager with an intellectual disability told his teacher that his backpack would blow up if anyone touched it.
—Aliyya Swaby, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
Children have been making their Barbies autistic for as long as autistic kids have been playing with them.
—Sarah Kurchak, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
One of our children was high-functioning autistic.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for autistic
Cite this Entry
“Autistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autistic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
autistic
1 of 2 adjective
au·tis·tic
ȯ-ˈtis-tik
: of, relating to, or marked by autism or autism spectrum disorder
the autistic community
autistic children
autistic
2 of 2 noun
: a person with autism or autism spectrum disorder
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