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

Dalia, who has cerebral palsy, also seemed eagerly waiting for this day. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 26 July 2025

Davenport, who also has cerebral palsy, and his producing partner at Multitude Films, Colleen Cassingham, kept hearing similar reasoning while making Life After, which is now playing in select theaters. —Madeleine Janz, People.com, 19 July 2025

Town, who has cerebral palsy, had been in Houston for six months when Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017. —Miranda Green, CBS News, 14 July 2025

Perez, who was non-verbal and also had cerebral palsy, died from his injuries after being shot multiple times by officers from the PPD following a violent outburst at his family's home on April 5. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025

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