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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Tickets start at $30; proceeds support TERI’s programs for people with autism and developmental disabilities.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
The store is also dedicated to creating jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in partnership with TNC Community nonprofit.
—Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 4 Dec. 2025
The family uses the attention to direct visitors toward a fundraiser for Little Friends, a nonprofit supporting people with autism and developmental disabilities.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The program provides fresh produce to 1500 families and individuals facing food insecurity and vocational horticulture opportunities to 200 people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities each year.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
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Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Dec. 2025
The store is also dedicated to creating jobs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in partnership with TNC Community nonprofit.
—Janice Phelan, Kansas City Star, 4 Dec. 2025
The family uses the attention to direct visitors toward a fundraiser for Little Friends, a nonprofit supporting people with autism and developmental disabilities.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
The program provides fresh produce to 1500 families and individuals facing food insecurity and vocational horticulture opportunities to 200 people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities each year.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 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 11 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
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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