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mental deficiency
noun
: a deficiency in cognitive functioning
specifically
: intellectual disability
Examples of mental deficiency in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now that White's execution has been scheduled again, his attorneys are continuing arguments that police took advantage of White's mental deficiencies to elicit a confession without an attorney present.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024
Federal authorities supported a sentence of life in prison after medical experts concluded Crusius has serious mental deficiencies.
—David Nakamura, Washington Post, 28 Dec. 2023
The News & Observer did a fact check of a charge by Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., who repeatedly accused the former vice president of mental deficiency.
—Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, 19 July 2020
There doesn’t seem to be any negative neurological signs yet for physical or mental deficiencies.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 2 Dec. 2019
Look at the real-world results of Donald Trump's erratic behavior, whether through mental deficiency or moral deficiency or some combination thereof.
—NBC News, 25 Aug. 2019
Then English gave his closing arguments, saying that McCoy was guilty, but only of second-degree murder, because of mental deficiencies.
—Jon Schuppe, NBC News, 12 Jan. 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
1820, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of mental deficiency was
in 1820
Dictionary Entries Near mental deficiency
Cite this Entry
“Mental deficiency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mental%20deficiency. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
mental deficiency
noun
: a deficiency in cognitive functioning
specifically
: intellectual disability
Legal Definition
mental deficiency
noun
: failure in intellectual development that is marked by low intelligence or mental retardation and that may result in an inability to function competently in society
More from Merriam-Webster on mental deficiency
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mental deficiency
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mental deficiency
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