stereotypy
noun
ste·reo·ty·py
ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtī-pē 
ˈstir-
ˈstir-
plural stereotypies
1
medical
: frequent repetition of the same, typically purposeless movement, gesture, posture, or vocal sounds or utterances (as in autism spectrum disorder)
This disorder is characterized by postnatal reduction in brain growth, with hand stereotypy, seizures, sensorimotor and autonomic deficits, and curtailment of social, language, cognitive, and neurologic development.—
Isabelle Rapin
Isabelle RapinStereotypies are problematic because they compete for time and energy that a child could be using to learn new skills.—Alan Harchik
Alan Harchik2
veterinary medicine
: abnormal repetitive behavior
Spending time away from family and a familiar environment can be very stressful for some pets. It appears that Max has developed a stereotypy (circling) as a result of the anxiety he feels at the kennel.—Katherine A. Houpt
Katherine A. HouptExamples of stereotypy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the zoo, a stereotypy such as pacing or swimming in circles suggests that an animal is in distress.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2012
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Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 21 May 2012
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“Stereotypy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotypy. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
stereotypy
noun
ste·reo·ty·py
ˈster-ē-ə-ˌtī-pē
ˈstir-
ˈstir-
plural stereotypies
: frequent repetition of the same, typically purposeless movement, gesture, posture, or vocal sounds or utterances (as in autism spectrum disorder)
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