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

In addition to her dominance on the track, Strauss has volunteered locally with Camp Sunrise, which serves children with special needs. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025

Other panelists welcomed the changes, but still cited a lengthy list of ways the incentives could be further improved, and better accommodate the special needs of smaller productions in particular. —David Bloom, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

While parents can use the association’s database to find camps that match certain criteria like location, cost, and special needs, Thompson suggests taking a simpler and more effective route: ask the people in your community for recommendations. —Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 27 June 2025

Unclaimed money will be split between the Legal Aid Society of San Diego and Sunshine Ranch Therapeutic Riding in Lakeside, which works with children with special needs. —Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 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