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

ˈspe-shəl-ˈnēdz 

adjective

or special needs

special-needs children

a special needs teacher

Examples of special needs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Employees previously given permission to work from home because of special needs can be exempted from the governor’s four-day return-to-office mandate, according to new guidance released by the state on Friday. —William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025

The Madison Square Garden concert raised $1.5 million to help the children with special needs at Willowbrook State School. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025

Seitz expects the special needs community will mobilize in the coming weeks and months to oppose reductions. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025

Solis pointed to programs that could be affected by a reduction in staffing, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for students with special needs and Title I funding relied on by kids who live in poverty. —Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for special needs

• centipedes
• intercedes
• millipedes
• supersedes
• accedes
• concedes
• exceeds
• impedes
• misdeeds
• misleads
• oilseeds
• precedes

Kids Definition

special needs

plural noun

: any of various difficulties (such as 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)

special–needs adjective

Medical 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

special-needs adjective

special-needs students