autistic

1 of 2

adjective

au·​tis·​tic ȯ-ˈti-stik How to pronounce autistic (audio)
: of, relating to, or marked by autism or autism spectrum disorder
autistic behavior
autistic children
autistically adverb

autistic

2 of 2

noun

: an individual affected with autism or autism spectrum disorder

Examples of autistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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

Etymology

Adjective

aut(ism) + -istic, after German autistisch

Note: See note at autism.

Noun

derivative of autistic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1942, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of autistic was in 1942

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.

Medical Definition

autistic

1 of 2 adjective
au·​tis·​tic ȯ-ˈtis-tik How to pronounce autistic (audio)
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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