Phrase guide

mentally retarded

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

intellectually disabled, medically defined as having an IQ (intelligence quotient) below 70 in addition to deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors (which means having problems with basic functional skills that affect everyday, general living).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: now potentially offensive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

people collectively who are mentally retarded

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he started a school for the retarded

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: retarded, developmentally challenged

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: people

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مُتَخَلِّف (mutaḵallif) — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Finnish: kehitysvammainen — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Lakota: tȟawáčhiŋ tʼatʼá — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Macedonian: ментално заостанат (mentalno zaostanat) — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Polish: upośledzony umysłowo — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Portuguese: retardado mental — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Romanian: retardat — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Romanian: înapoiat mintal — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Spanish: mentalmente retrasado — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills
  • Spanish: retardado mentalmente — having an IQ below 70 and problems with basic daily living skills