autism

Meaning

1. (uncountable, usually) A pervasive neurological condition that is observable in early childhood and persists throughout the lifespan, characterised by atypical communication patterns (e.g., differences in body language or eye contact), delayed language development, and sensory processing sensitivities.
2. (broadly, uncountable, usually) A pervasive neurological condition that is observable in early childhood and persists throughout the lifespan, characterised by atypical communication patterns (e.g., differences in body language or eye contact), delayed language development, and sensory processing sensitivities.
3. (obsolete, uncountable, usually) A diagnosis involving a pathological tendency to engage in self-centered fantasy thinking, historically considered a symptom of insanity or schizophrenia.
4. (Internet, offensive, uncountable, usually) Abnormal and unhealthy focus or persistence, stereotypically coupled with low self-awareness and unhealthy hatred of opposition or criticism.

Synonyms

acedia

autistic

conjecture

imagination

introversion

melancholy

Translations

autisme

autismo

Autismus

autismo

autismo

autisme

autisme

αυτισμός

otizm

autismus

توحد

Autismo

autista

autistico

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɔːtɪzəm/

Etymology

Borrowed from German Autismus, coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, first usage dated to 1907 attributed by Carl Jung as an alternative of his for "auto-erotism", although Bleuler himself differentiates the terms in his book Dementia Praecox, first published 1911. From Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, “self”) + -ισμός (-ismós, “-ism”).