cerebral palsy

noun

: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances
cerebral-palsied
sə-ˈrē-brəl-ˈpȯl-zēd How to pronounce cerebral palsy (audio)
ˈser-ə-
ˈse-rə-
adjective

Examples of cerebral palsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Victor Perez, who was autistic and had cerebral palsy, was shot nine times on April 5 while standing in the yard in Pocatello, a city of about 60,000 in southeastern Idaho. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025 Victor Perez, an Idaho teen with autism and cerebral palsy, was declared brain dead late Friday night, days after he was shot by police officers in his own backyard, his family said. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 12 Apr. 2025 Growing up with a sister who had cerebral palsy and graduated second in her high school class, and now as mother of twin daughters – one who is neurodiverse – Ibrahim thinks of the educational assistance that AI can offer in the form of personalized tutoring which has barely begun to be tapped. Eric Rosenbaum, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 The teen, 17-year-old Victor Perez, who is autistic and has cerebral palsy, was shot nine times, his family told local news outlets. Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cerebral palsy

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cerebral palsy was in 1824

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Cite this Entry

“Cerebral palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebral%20palsy. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

cerebral palsy

noun
: a disease resulting from damage to the brain usually before or during birth and resulting in imperfect control of muscles, paralysis, and speech disturbances

Medical Definition

cerebral palsy

noun
: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances see ataxic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy
cerebral palsied adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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