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special needs

plural noun

Definition of special needs

: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

or special needs adjective
    • special-needs children
    • a special needs teacher

From the M-W Editors

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First Known Use of special needs

1899

SPECIAL NEEDS Defined for English Language Learners

special needs

noun

Definition of special needs for English Language Learners

  • : mental, emotional, or physical problems in a child that require a special setting for education

Medical Dictionary

special needs

noun plural

medical Definition of special needs

: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,  6 Feb. 2012
—

special-needs

adjective
    • special-needs students

Learn More about special needs

  1. See words that rhyme with special needs

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