neurodevelopmental

adjective

neu·​ro·​de·​vel·​op·​men·​tal ˌn(y)u̇r-ō-di-ˌve-ləp-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce neurodevelopmental (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting the development of the nervous system
neurodevelopmental disorders/syndromes/disabilities
… found that their data did not support the hypothesis that there is a neurodevelopmental risk from prenatal exposure to mercury from ocean fish.Elizabeth Shogren, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2003
Unfortunately, there is no evidence that postnatal glucocorticoid therapy improves the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome, and most neonates who are successfully weaned from ventilators still have prolonged oxygen dependence.Richard J. Martin and Michele C. Walsh-Sukys, New England Journal of Medicine, 1 Apr. 1999
neurodevelopment noun
Flame retardant compounds pervasive in most California households appear to delay the neurodevelopment of children exposed to the chemicals from the womb through the first years of life … Stephanie M. Lee, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2012

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neurodevelopmental was in 1968

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Cite this Entry

“Neurodevelopmental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neurodevelopmental. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

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