au·tis·tic
ȯ-ˈti-stik 
: of, relating to, or marked by autism or autism spectrum disorder
autistic behavior
autistic children
: an individual affected with autism or autism spectrum disorder
Examples of autistic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Henderson, CNN, 14 Sep. 2023
The fact that a person is autistic or dyslexic may not be as obvious, but they are also protected under that federal law.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Sensory Apps Many autistic people of all ages have sensory challenges.
—Lisa Jo Rudy, Verywell Health, 21 Aug. 2023
The study looked at a total of 380,000 study subjects, including both autistic and non-autistic people, and compared the incidence of hospitalization for self-harm or death by suicide in both groups, starting at age 10.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 9 Aug. 2023
Davis will also pay $2 million to the family of Izzy Tichenor, the 10-year-old Black girl who died by suicide after facing bullying at her elementary school for being Black and autistic.
—Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023
The two children were among more than 100 students who were immobilized or taken to timeout rooms over 1,000 times in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years at the Utah charter for autistic and neurotypically diverse children.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023
Quality and Safety Matter When choosing a CBD product for autistic children or patients, quality and safety should be top priorities.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
How a deaf, autistic basketball player’s shining moment became a Cerritos College nightmare
Basketball saved Kade West after the deaf, autistic athlete lost his mom.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2023
Time, 31 July 2023
Which autistic’s need in the room gets prioritized?
—Hari Srinivasan, Fortune, 27 July 2023
In adulthood, autistics face under/unemployment and inadequate assistance from rehabilitation agencies.
—John Elder Robison, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Getting rid of that social expectation would help autistics move more freely through the world.
—Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2023
Whatever the reasons, too many autistics die early from preventable causes.
—John Elder Robison, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Thirty years later, the belief persists that autistics can reliably count a pile of toothpicks at a glance.
—Donna Levin, Smithsonian, 24 May 2017
Thirty years later, the belief persists that autistics can reliably count a pile of toothpicks at a glance.
—Donna Levin, Smithsonian, 24 May 2017
See More
Adjective
The child is nonverbal and autistic, said the attorney for the boy’s parents, Michael Wright.
—Jennifer Henderson, CNN, 14 Sep. 2023
The fact that a person is autistic or dyslexic may not be as obvious, but they are also protected under that federal law.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 Aug. 2023
Sensory Apps Many autistic people of all ages have sensory challenges.
—Lisa Jo Rudy, Verywell Health, 21 Aug. 2023
The study looked at a total of 380,000 study subjects, including both autistic and non-autistic people, and compared the incidence of hospitalization for self-harm or death by suicide in both groups, starting at age 10.
—Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 9 Aug. 2023
Davis will also pay $2 million to the family of Izzy Tichenor, the 10-year-old Black girl who died by suicide after facing bullying at her elementary school for being Black and autistic.
—Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023
The two children were among more than 100 students who were immobilized or taken to timeout rooms over 1,000 times in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years at the Utah charter for autistic and neurotypically diverse children.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Sep. 2023
Quality and Safety Matter When choosing a CBD product for autistic children or patients, quality and safety should be top priorities.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023
How a deaf, autistic basketball player’s shining moment became a Cerritos College nightmare
Basketball saved Kade West after the deaf, autistic athlete lost his mom.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2023
Noun
Inevitably, the teaching strategies and therapy for a literal thinker autistic would be different from the needs of a non-literal autistic.
—Time, 31 July 2023
Which autistic’s need in the room gets prioritized?
—Hari Srinivasan, Fortune, 27 July 2023
In adulthood, autistics face under/unemployment and inadequate assistance from rehabilitation agencies.
—John Elder Robison, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Getting rid of that social expectation would help autistics move more freely through the world.
—Laura Newberry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2023
Whatever the reasons, too many autistics die early from preventable causes.
—John Elder Robison, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Thirty years later, the belief persists that autistics can reliably count a pile of toothpicks at a glance.
—Donna Levin, Smithsonian, 24 May 2017
Thirty years later, the belief persists that autistics can reliably count a pile of toothpicks at a glance.
—Donna Levin, Smithsonian, 24 May 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autistic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing autistic
Dictionary Entries Near autistic
Cite this Entry
“Autistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autistic. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.
Copy Citation
Medical Definition
autistic
1 of 2 adjective
au·tis·tic
ȯ-ˈtis-tik
: of, relating to, or marked by autism or autism spectrum disorder
autistic behavior
autistic children
autistic
2 of 2 noun
: an individual affected with autism or autism spectrum disorder
More from Merriam-Webster on autistic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share