developmental disability
noun
plural developmental disabilities
: any of various conditions (such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.—
Melanie Howard
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled students
Examples of developmental disability in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Agencies receiving money serve Hanover Township residents in the areas of mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse intervention and prevention.
—Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, a safe, affordable apartment with the right supports is not simply a place to live.
—Fay Lenz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
The next and final phase will shift about two dozen males with developmental disabilities from Los Padrinos to Dorothy Kirby.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Park City Mountain is the winter home of the National Ability Center (NAC), which provides adaptive programs for competitive athletes, senior citizens, and children with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities.
—Caroline Tell, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
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Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, or IDD, a safe, affordable apartment with the right supports is not simply a place to live.
—Fay Lenz, Hartford Courant, 9 Feb. 2026
The next and final phase will shift about two dozen males with developmental disabilities from Los Padrinos to Dorothy Kirby.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Park City Mountain is the winter home of the National Ability Center (NAC), which provides adaptive programs for competitive athletes, senior citizens, and children with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities.
—Caroline Tell, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for developmental disability
Cite this Entry
“Developmental disability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/developmental%20disability. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
developmental disability
noun
: any of various conditions (as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.—Melanie Howard
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled children
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