autism

noun

au·​tism ˈȯ-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce autism (audio)
: a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized especially by difficulties in forming and maintaining social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate verbally or nonverbally, and by repetitive behavior patterns and restricted interests and activities
… the chief diagnostic signs of autism are social isolation, lack of eye contact, poor language capacity and absence of empathy …Vilayanur S. Ramachandran et al.

called also autistic disorder

see autism spectrum disorder

Examples of autism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web An estimated 2% of adults qualify for an autism diagnosis. John Donvan, ABC News, 2 May 2024 Studies have linked acephate to reductions in IQ and verbal comprehension and autism with intellectual disability. Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 1 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for autism 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'autism.' 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

borrowed from German Autismus "group of supposed symptoms of schizophrenia that involve a turning away from reality," from Greek autós "self, the same" + German -ismus -ism — more at auto-

Note: The German term Autismus was introduced, along with the corresponding adjective autistisch (see autistic), by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler (1857-1939), in the paper "Zur Theorie des schizophrenen Negativismus," Psychiatrisch-Neurologische Wochenschrift, Nr. 19 (August 6, 1910), 12. Jahrgang 1910/11, pp. 184-98. Adaptation of the word in English to designate what is now termed autism spectrum disorder has been credited to the Austrian-born American physician and psychiatrist Leo Kanner (1894-1981), in the paper "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact," The Nervous Child, vol. 2 (1943), pp. 217-50. German Autismus and autistisch were used five years earlier to describe essentially the same syndrome by the Austrian physician Hans Asperger (1906-80), in an article in Wiener klinische Wochenschrift ("Das psychisch abnorme Kind," Band 51 [1938], pp. 1314-17), the text of a lecture given on October 3, 1938: "Innerhalb dieser wohl charakterisierten Gruppe von Kindern, die wir wegen der Einengung ihrer Beziehungen zur Umwelt, wegen der Beschränkung auf das eigene Selbst (αυτός) 'autistische Psychopathen' nennen, gibt es nun freilich wieder recht verschiedene, auch recht verschieden zu bewertende Menschen." ("Within this well-characterized group of children, whom we call 'autistic psychopaths' owing to the narrowing of connections to their surroundings and restriction to their own selves (autós), there are to be sure quite a variety of people, among them people to be variably evaluated.") (Note that psychopath here means simply "person judged to be suffering from some mental disorder"—it does not have its current English meaning.) Asperger later acknowledged that the terms Autismus and autistisch had originally been used by Bleuler.

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of autism was in 1944

Dictionary Entries Near autism

Cite this Entry

“Autism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autism. Accessed 9 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

autism

noun
au·​tism ˈȯ-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce autism (audio)
: a disorder that is characterized especially by problems in interacting and communicating with other people and by doing some activities over and over again

Medical Definition

autism

noun
au·​tism ˈȯ-ˌtiz-əm How to pronounce autism (audio)
: a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically appears by age two, that is variable in expression but is usually diagnosed by persistent impairments in social interaction and communication and by stereotyped (see stereotyped sense 2) patterns of behavior, activities, or interests, and that may be accompanied by cognitive or language impairments : autism spectrum disorder
Autism diagnosis has traditionally been most common in childhood, when differences from neurotypical peers may first become obvious. However, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the rate of adult diagnosis, particularly as diagnostic criteria have been broadened such that individuals who may not have received an autism diagnosis in childhood may now meet current diagnostic criteria.Laura Hull et al., Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Many people with autism have problems understanding metaphors, sometimes interpreting them literally. They also have difficulty miming other people's actions.Vilayanur S. Ramachandran et al., Scientific American
In approximately 10% of patients, autism can be explained by genetic syndromes and known chromosomal anomalies …Lauren A Weiss et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on autism

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