autism

Meaning

Noun

• A pervasive neurological condition that is observable in early childhood and persists throughout the lifespan, characterised by atypical communication, language development, eye contact, and sensory experiences.
• Synonym of autism spectrum (disorder); generalization of the specific to a range.
• A diagnosis involving a pathological tendency to engage in self-centered fantasy thinking, historically considered a symptom of insanity and/or schizophrenia.
• Abnormal and unhealthy focus or persistence, stereotypically coupled with low self-awareness and unhealthy hatred of opposition or criticism.

Related

Similar words

• autistic spectrum

Narrower meaning words

• Asperger syndrome / Asperger's syndrome / Asperger's / Asperger
• autism

Broader meaning words

• autism
• autism spectrum
• autistic spectrum
• autism spectrum disorder
• autistic spectrum disorder
• neurodivergence
• neurodiversity

Origin

• From German Autismus, coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1912, from Ancient Greek αὐτός ("self") + -ισμός.