special needs

plural noun

: any of various difficulties (such as a physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning disability or impairment) that causes an individual to require additional or specialized services or accommodations (such as in education or recreation)

students with special needs

special-needs

ˈspe-shəl-ˈnēdz 

adjective

or special needs

special-needs children

a special needs teacher

Examples of special needs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

DeMarzo is the president of the Danielle DeMarzo Foundation, which supports individuals with special needs by providing resources, programs and awareness. —Angelica Wells, Miami Herald, 26 Nov. 2025

Tickets are just $8, with $2 from every ticket supporting MLSD, which provides children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025

Beaches Kids Camps are Advanced Certified Autism Centers staffed by team members with the training and expertise to cater to children of all ages with autism or other special needs. —Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025

Chaney echoed Chase’s point about serving children with special needs, calling for more resources around inclusion training to be made available to early educators. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for special needs

• centipedes
• intercedes
• millipedes
• supersedes
• accedes
• concedes
• exceeds
• impedes
• misdeeds
• misleads
• oilseeds
• precedes

Kids Definition

special needs

plural noun

: any of various difficulties (such as physical, emotional, behavioral, or learning disability or impairment) that causes an individual to require additional or specialized services or accommodations (such as in education or recreation)

special–needs adjective

Medical Definition

special needs

noun plural

: the individual requirements (as for education) of a person with a disadvantaged background or a mental, emotional, or physical disability or a high risk of developing one

Some urban homeschooled kids, particularly those with special needs, were previously enrolled in school but not served well there.

—Linda Perlstein, Newsweek

special-needs adjective

special-needs students