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
Recent Examples on the Web
Money raised will support the care of children and adults with profound developmental disabilities who receive residential and education care at the nonprofit center, according to a news release.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
In a 2019 federal complaint, the director of nursing at a Wheat Ridge facility for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities said she was paid less than her white and non-Asian colleagues for the same work.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
Detectives learned that the girl, who had a developmental disability and required full-time care, relied on a feeding tube for nutrition.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for developmental disability
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Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
In a 2019 federal complaint, the director of nursing at a Wheat Ridge facility for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities said she was paid less than her white and non-Asian colleagues for the same work.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
Detectives learned that the girl, who had a developmental disability and required full-time care, relied on a feeding tube for nutrition.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026
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
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 27 Apr. 2026.
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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