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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Her husband has abused her, leading to her son being born with developmental disabilities.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 30 June 2025
As esports can be a way to help students with special needs, the program is offered free for clients of the San Diego Regional Center, which provides services to people with developmental disabilities.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Nicole Kim leads College of Adaptive Arts, a nonprofit offering college programs for adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities.
—Nicole Kim, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later found that the torso belonged to a woman between 45 and 65 years old who may have had Turner Syndrome, a developmental disability resulting in underdeveloped reproductive organs and growth, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2025
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Kayti Burt, Time, 30 June 2025
As esports can be a way to help students with special needs, the program is offered free for clients of the San Diego Regional Center, which provides services to people with developmental disabilities.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Nicole Kim leads College of Adaptive Arts, a nonprofit offering college programs for adults with intellectual & developmental disabilities.
—Nicole Kim, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later found that the torso belonged to a woman between 45 and 65 years old who may have had Turner Syndrome, a developmental disability resulting in underdeveloped reproductive organs and growth, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 13 May 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 4 Jul. 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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