mentally retarded

adjective

now often offensive

: affected by intellectual disability : intellectually disabled

… Rosa's Law, which changed references in federal law from "mental retardation" to "intellectual disability" and references to a mentally retarded individual to an individual with an intellectual disability.

—Victor R. Martinez

Note: The use of intellectually disabled is now preferred over mentally retarded in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mentally retarded is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mentally retarded

adjective

now often offensive

: affected by intellectual disability : intellectually disabled

Medical Definition

mentally retarded

adjective

now often offensive : affected by intellectual disability : intellectually disabled

Note: The use of intellectually disabled is now preferred over mentally retarded in medical, educational, and regulatory contexts, as well as in general use. The term mentally retarded is increasingly considered offensive, though it was the dominant term into the second decade of the current century.