spectrum disorder

American

noun

Psychiatry.

any of a group of disorders each having symptoms that occur on a continuum and certain features that are shared along its spectrum but that manifest in markedly different forms and degrees.

Etymology

Origin of spectrum disorder

First recorded in 1970–75

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.

Court documents describe Doe as a 30-year-old woman with autism spectrum disorder who struck up a connection with Glover on social media in 2015.

From Los Angeles Times

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental condition that manifests differently in nearly every person who has it.

From Los Angeles Times

The company says it is developing traditional Chinese medicine, primarily herbal formulas, to treat autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

From The Wall Street Journal

The number of with children autistic spectrum disorder receiving support in London has increased by 158% from 17,832 in 2015-16 to 46,095 in 2024-2025, according to DfE data.

From BBC

The review said the clinics found "the new, younger cohort of patients has a higher proportion of additional neurodevelopmental conditions", such as autism spectrum disorder and a range of other conditions, including mental health issues and trauma and abuse during childhood.

From BBC

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