developmental disability
noun
plural developmental disabilities
: any of various conditions (such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.—
Melanie Howard
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled students
Examples of developmental disability in a Sentence
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More than 200 ornaments created by children and adults with developmental disabilities will adorn the state Christmas tree, furnished courtesy of the state Department of Developmental Services.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
This assistance includes support for children with autism, blindness, deafness, emotional and developmental disabilities and students with orthopedic impairments.
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Adams volunteers at Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that works to promote one-on-one friendships and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
—Lulu Jaeckel, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Forty apartment are reserved for residents with developmental disabilities.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
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Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
This assistance includes support for children with autism, blindness, deafness, emotional and developmental disabilities and students with orthopedic impairments.
—K. Ward Cummings, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Adams volunteers at Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that works to promote one-on-one friendships and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
—Lulu Jaeckel, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Forty apartment are reserved for residents with developmental disabilities.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for developmental disability
Cite this Entry
“Developmental disability.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/developmental%20disability. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
developmental disability
noun
: any of various conditions (as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, blindness, or fragile X syndrome) that usually become apparent during infancy or childhood and are marked by delayed development or functional limitations especially in learning, language, communication, cognition, behavior, socialization, or mobility
Two to three babies in 1,000 have cerebral palsy (CP), making it one of the most common developmental disabilities.—Melanie Howard
Melanie HowardAutism is a complex developmental disability that affects how a person communicates and relates to other people.—Braema Mathi
Braema Mathi
developmentally disabled
adjective
developmentally disabled children
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