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Autistic vs Retarded - What's the difference?

autistic | retarded |

As adjectives the difference between autistic and retarded

is that autistic is pertaining to, or having autism while retarded is delayed; delayed in development, hindered; impeded.

As a noun autistic

is a person who has autism.

As a verb retarded is

past tense of retard.

autistic

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Pertaining to, or having autism.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who has autism.
  • * 2006 , Alan Griswold, Autistic Symphony
    • If our definition of empathy were to require we take the human cognitive norm (overwhelmingly influenced by neurotypical cognition) as the absolute standard by which to measure empathy, then indeed we would have to conclude autistics do not instinctively possess a good sense of empathy.

    Synonyms

    * autist

    Hyponyms

    * idiot savant (potentially offensive)

    Related terms

    * autistic spectrum * autistic spectrum disorder (ASD)

    retarded

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Delayed; delayed in development, hindered; impeded.
  • * 2004 , Duncan Mackay, The Observer , 8 Aug 2004:
    • HGH, which was originally developed to assist children with retarded growth, is believed to be especially popular with sprinters.
  • (chiefly, North America) Underdeveloped (of a person's intelligence, abilities etc.).
  • * 2000 , Kate Connolly, The Guardian , 19 Apr 2000:
    • The European Roma Rights Centre in Budapest, which is representing the children - from the north-eastern city of Ostrava - said that the education ministry and local authorities had for decades "perpetuated a system which routinely brands disproportionate numbers of Gypsies as mentally retarded ".
  • (colloquial, derogatory) Stupid, dumb.
  • * 1988 , Raymond E Feist, Faerie Tale :
    • Looking at Jack, Gabbie said, "What?" "That's the Troll Bridge." She groaned at the pun. "That's retarded ."
  • (physics) Designating a parameter of an electromagnetic field which is adjusted to account for the finite speed of radiation.

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (retard)