From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishautismau‧tis‧m /ˈɔːtɪzəm $ ˈɒː-/ noun [uncountable] MPa mental disorder (=problem) that makes people unable to communicate properly, or to form relationships —autistic /ɔːˈtɪstɪk $ ɒː-/ adjective an autistic child
Examples from the Corpus
autism• But there are still many types of handicap - such as autism - about which little is known.• The National Autistic Society will now operate a phone line for families in the region affected by autism.• Parents demanded the single jabs because of fears that the combined vaccine could cause autism and bowel disease.• Among them are speech, sight, hearing, autism, Down syndrome and traumatic injuries.• The causes of autism are unknown.• Others would simply sit there stunned, looking as though they were suffering from severe autism.• Its students have Down syndrome, autism and mental illness.• Misc. kids. health covered everything from circumcision to premature gray hair to autism.Origin autism (1900-2000) Greek autos; → AUTO- 