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
adjective
or special needs
special-needs children
a special needs teacher
Examples of special needs in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rubber bands can be used in a variety of different ways and have been used for adaptive horseback riding, which is recreational horseback riding or lessons that are adapted to meet the unique needs of a child or adult with special needs.
—
Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025
Young children and children with special needs should have an adult present.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of children and adults with special needs have been empowered by these efforts.
—Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Earlier that day a few volunteers at our Joni and Friends Retreat for special needs families signed her up for the children's group.
—Joni Eareckson Tada, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
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Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025
Young children and children with special needs should have an adult present.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
Hundreds of children and adults with special needs have been empowered by these efforts.
—Christina Mayo, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Earlier that day a few volunteers at our Joni and Friends Retreat for special needs families signed her up for the children's group.
—Joni Eareckson Tada, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for special needs
Cite this Entry
“Special needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20needs. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Linda Perlstein, Newsweek
special-needs
adjective
special-needs students
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