quadriplegic
Quadriplegic (noun) means a person who has lost movement and feeling in both arms and both legs, usually because of an injury to the spinal cord in the neck. Example: “He has been a quadriplegic since a diving accident at nineteen.”
How to Use Quadriplegic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who cannot move their arms or their legs.
Standard medical English. Many clinicians and disability organisations prefer tetraplegic (fully Greek) or person-first phrasing such as 'a person with quadriplegia'. Avoid using the word as a label for the whole person in careful writing.
Quadri- means four, so all four limbs; para- in paraplegic marks the lower half only.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
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He has been a _____ since a diving accident at nineteen.
Etymology
A hybrid of Latin quadri- 'four' and Greek plēgē 'stroke, blow', on the model of paraplegic.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for quadriplegic
See all rhymes for quadriplegic →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between quadriplegic and paraplegic?
A quadriplegic is paralysed in all four limbs, from an injury high in the spine at neck level. A paraplegic is paralysed in the legs and lower body only, from an injury lower down the spine, and retains use of the arms.
Is quadriplegic the same as tetraplegic?
Yes, they mean exactly the same thing. Quadriplegic mixes a Latin prefix with a Greek root, while tetraplegic is consistently Greek, which is why it is preferred in British and international medical writing.
Can a quadriplegic move at all?
Often yes. Paralysis is a matter of degree, and many people classed as quadriplegic retain partial shoulder, arm or hand movement depending on how high the spinal injury sits.
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