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

An Emerald Alert will be sent out for missing children under 10 who've not been seen by an adult for an extended time, missing persons with special needs, non-domestic adult kidnappings, and cases where foul play is suspected. —Andrea May Sahouri, Freep.com, 18 Aug. 2025

The Blackest school district in the state, with the highest homeless student population, the highest bilingual population and the highest special needs population hasn’t just experienced disinvestment. —Stacy Davis Gates, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025

Nathan Mejia, a 15-year-old with special needs, was pulled from the passenger seat of his mother’s car and handcuffed by federal immigration agents outside Arleta High School in northern Los Angeles on Monday, CNN affiliate KCBS reported. —Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025

All student groups see increases State officials also said for the first time, all student groups that the state collects data on – like ethnicity, special needs, language learners and socioeconomic status – saw growth in reading scores. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 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