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

The foundation gave $10,000 each to Trailways Camp, a Fort Myers camp for adults with special needs; Baby Basics of Naples, which provides free diapers to needy families, the Pregnancy Care Center of Lake City, and the Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation in Miami Beach. —Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2025

Policies like this will cause our district to lose millions of federal dollars designated for students with special needs. —Brenda Lebsack, Oc Register, 8 July 2025

The legendary Gator, 37, and onetime beauty queen (neé Nel-Peters) met in 2018 at an annual Night to Shine charity event for people with special needs. —Madeleine Marr july 8, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025

Accessories such as cargo bags, turn signaling, mirrors, and equipment for riders with special needs are also available from Hase. —New Atlas, 6 July 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