Intellectual Disability Terminology

noun a stupid act or statement

• The court deemed the defendant's actions as a result of his imbecility.
• Her imbecility was evident when she couldn't solve a simple math problem.
• Stop acting with such imbecility, it's getting annoying.
• The imbecility of the plan was clear when it fell apart within minutes.

adjective describing a person with a developmental disability affecting their intelligence and ability to function in daily life

• The term 'mentally retarded' is considered outdated and offensive, as it is not a respectful way to refer to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Using the term 'mentally retarded' is not cool, it's better to say someone has an intellectual disability.
• Dude, that's so not cool to call someone mentally retarded, it's disrespectful.
• His progress in the project was mentally retarded, as he struggled to keep up with the rest of the team.

noun the state of being delayed or held back in terms of progress or development

• Intellectual retardation is a condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.
• The doctor explained that the child's mental retardation may require specialized education and support.
• Using the term 'retardation' as an insult is offensive and disrespectful.
• The economic retardation of the region was evident in the lack of infrastructure development.

adjective describing someone who is lacking in intelligence or quickness of mind

• The professor noticed that the student was slow-witted when it came to solving complex equations.
• I can't believe how slow-witted he is sometimes, it takes him forever to understand simple instructions.
• She's a bit slow-witted, so you might need to explain things a few times for her to get it.
• His slow-witted responses in the meeting made it clear that he was not on the same page as everyone else.