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
The case began in March 2025, after a video emerged showing educators at Millsap Elementary interacting with special needs students in ways that parents described as abusive.
—
Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
After the egg hunt, the church opened its doors for another hunt for those with special needs.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Families who rely on school buses, particularly for students with special needs, may need to plan for alternatives.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Authorities said that the boy was assigned to sit next to Doty on a school bus for children with special needs — despite Doty not having any himself.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for special needs
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Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
After the egg hunt, the church opened its doors for another hunt for those with special needs.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Families who rely on school buses, particularly for students with special needs, may need to plan for alternatives.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Authorities said that the boy was assigned to sit next to Doty on a school bus for children with special needs — despite Doty not having any himself.
—Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
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 8 Apr. 2026.
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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