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

Junior Charlie McGee became the first college student with special needs to be accepted into a fraternity at Clemson University, CBS News reported. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024

Ross Porter: Fernando loved golf and our family has hosted a celebrity tournament to fund our son’s nonprofit which assists special needs families. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024

Young children and children with special needs should have an adult present. —Katie Wiseman, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Oct. 2024

His son has special needs, though; how would that work? —Charlie Mason, TVLine, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

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