intellectual disability
noun
Note: The term intellectual disability is now preferred over mental retardation in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mental retardation is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.
Examples of intellectual disability in a Sentence
Zoya Hasan, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
The court cited an upcoming Alabama case that stands to change how an inmate's intellectual disabilities are determined.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Noel, who had physical and intellectual disabilities, was last seen in October 2022, and investigators found new evidence Wednesday during a search of the backyard at his former family home on Wisteria Drive in Everman, southeast of Fort Worth.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Initially, the authors found maternal antidepressant use during pregnancy was linked with a 35% higher risk of ADHD and a 69% higher risk of autism without intellectual disabilities.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for intellectual disability
Cite this Entry
“Intellectual disability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual%20disability. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
intellectual disability
nounNote: The term intellectual disability is now preferred over mental retardation in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mental retardation is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.
Victor R. Martinez
