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
adjective
or special needs
special-needs children
a special needs teacher
Examples of special needs in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the children has special needs, and all are U.S. citizens.
—
Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Abrego Garcia explained to the officer in English that his son with special needs was in the back seat.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
The story focuses on a young Montessori played by Jasmine Trinca who, despite living in a highly patriarchal society, has broken through the glass ceiling to establish a special needs educational institution in Rome.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
However, the Trump administration has vowed to keep statutory funding, such as the programs for students with special needs.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for special needs
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Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Abrego Garcia explained to the officer in English that his son with special needs was in the back seat.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
The story focuses on a young Montessori played by Jasmine Trinca who, despite living in a highly patriarchal society, has broken through the glass ceiling to establish a special needs educational institution in Rome.
—Gus Alexiou, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
However, the Trump administration has vowed to keep statutory funding, such as the programs for students with special needs.
—Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for special needs
Cite this Entry
“Special needs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20needs. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Linda Perlstein, Newsweek
special-needs
adjective
special-needs students
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