intellectual disability

noun

: mild to severe impairment in intellectual ability equivalent to an IQ of 70 to 75 or below that is accompanied by significant limitations in social, practical, and conceptual skills (as in interpersonal communication, reasoning, or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning and that has an onset before age 18

Note: The term intellectual disability is now preferred over mental retardation in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mental retardation is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.

Examples of intellectual disability in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When the director was a young boy living in a small Estonian town, a person with an intellectual disability died after tragically falling under a train. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 June 2026

Saldaño was convicted of murder in a robbery gone wrong, but his first lawyers did not raise the claim of intellectual disability at trial. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 22 June 2026

The teams include unified partners, or people without intellectual disabilities, who are joined up with athletes in what are called Unified Sports. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 2026

Haugland is a graduate of Bethel University's BUILD program, a 2-year transition and postsecondary program that provides the full college experience for students with intellectual disabilities. — Derek James, CBS News, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intellectual disability

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

Kids Definition

intellectual disability

noun

: mild to severe impairment in intellectual ability accompanied by significant limitations in skills (as in communication, reasoning, or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning

Medical Definition

intellectual disability

noun

: mild to severe impairment in intellectual ability equivalent to an IQ of 70 to 75 or below that is accompanied by significant limitations in social, practical, and conceptual skills (as in interpersonal communication, reasoning, or self-care) necessary for independent daily functioning and that has an onset before age 18

Note: The term intellectual disability is now preferred over mental retardation in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mental retardation is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.

… Rosa's Law, which changed references in federal law from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" and references to a mentally retarded individual to an individual with an intellectual disability.

—Victor R. Martinez