adj
Uncommon
retarded
rih-TAH-dihd
Retarded (adj) means Slowed down or delayed in development. Example: “The plant's retarded growth was traced to poor soil quality.”
adj
1
Slowed down or delayed in development.
"HGH, which was originally developed to assist children with retarded growth, is believed to be especially popular with sprinters."
— Duncan Mackay, The Observer (2004)
"The plant's retarded growth was traced to poor soil quality."
"This kind of plant is usually of a retarded growth."
How to use retarded
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHeld back or slowed in its development.
When to use it
Once a clinical term for intellectual disability, this word is now considered a slur when applied to people and should never be used that way; the technical, non-human sense (slowed or delayed) survives in some specialist and older scientific writing but is increasingly avoided even there.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more retarded
- Superlative
- most retarded
Etymology
Formed from retard and -ed.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for retarded
See all rhymes for retarded →Frequently asked questions
What does “retarded” mean?
The word “retarded” means slowed down or delayed in development. In plain terms, held back or slowed in its development.
How do you pronounce “retarded”?
“Retarded” is pronounced rih-TAH-dihd (/ɹiˈtɑɹdɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “retarded” in a sentence?
Here is “retarded” used in a sentence: “The plant's retarded growth was traced to poor soil quality.”
What part of speech is “retarded”?
“Retarded” is an adjective.
Is “retarded” a common word?
“Retarded” is an uncommon word in modern English.
