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
Victor R. MartinezNote: 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.
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“Mentally retarded.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentally%20retarded. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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