developmental disability
noun
plural developmental disabilities
: any of various conditions (such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.—
Melanie Howard
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled students
Examples of developmental disability in a Sentence
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SweetAbility has also formed a partnership with Friends Life Community, where folks with developmental disabilities get hands-on experience working at select baking stations that Chelle creates.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Many people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are forced into poverty because of the way government benefits are structured, as outlined by the Social Security Administration.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Little City, a program that helps people with developmental disabilities practice employment skills through volunteer work, often brings groups to Bernie's, typically around once a month.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The art studio is one of many amenities offered at the facility, which provides daily activities and training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
—Paulina Czupryna, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
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Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Many people with intellectual or developmental disabilities are forced into poverty because of the way government benefits are structured, as outlined by the Social Security Administration.
—Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Little City, a program that helps people with developmental disabilities practice employment skills through volunteer work, often brings groups to Bernie's, typically around once a month.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The art studio is one of many amenities offered at the facility, which provides daily activities and training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
—Paulina Czupryna, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for developmental disability
Cite this Entry
“Developmental disability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/developmental%20disability. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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developmental disability
noun
: any of various conditions (as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.—Melanie Howard
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled children
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