autistic

American

[aw-tis-tik] / ɔˈtɪs tɪk /

adjective

relating to or having autism spectrum disorder.

The researchers are compiling advice on supporting wellness in autistic adults.
She and her son are both autistic.
We are a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community.

noun

Also autist a person with autism spectrum disorder.

It's just an opinion, but it's based on my own experience and conversations with fellow autistics.

Other Word Forms

autistically adverb
unautistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of autistic

First recorded in 1942; aut(ism) ( def. ) + -istic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They moved out of Baldwin Park; one of his sons, fearing backlash, opted to be home schooled; and his youngest son, who is autistic, lost access to some needed school services.

From Los Angeles Times

Marsha Martin and her three children are autistic and have ADHD.

From BBC

The goal was to help the deputies understand the feeling of sensory overwhelm, which many autistic people experience when incoming stimulation exceeds their capacity to process.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's actually a bigger issue than people realise," says Duncan, from Devon, whose teenage daughter is autistic and has sensory processing disorder, which means she is more sensitive to how clothing feels against her skin.

From BBC

From a contemporary perspective, it seems likely that Tennyson was on the autistic spectrum.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023