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

Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.

—Braema Mathi

developmentally disabled adjective

developmentally disabled students

Examples of developmental disability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mullen began working at the restaurant in 1978 after finding Lura Turner Homes, a local nonprofit that provides housing and job support to adults with developmental disabilities, according to ABC 15. —Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026

Amabile said lawmakers are proposing to convert a facility in Pueblo to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026

Noel’s speech was limited, and poor vision and a limp were among his developmental disabilities. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026

On one hand, her work includes deeply compassionate photographs of carnival performers, strippers, nudists, gender-nonconforming people, people with developmental disabilities, and people with both dwarfism and gigantism. —Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for developmental disability

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fertility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• hostility

Kids Definition

developmental disability

noun

: any of various conditions (as autism, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disability) that are marked by delayed or impaired development (as in learning, language, or mobility)

developmentally disabled adjective

Medical 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

Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.

—Braema Mathi

developmentally disabled adjective

developmentally disabled children