retarded
word
Definition
This word was once used in medical or technical contexts to describe delayed mental or physical development, but in modern everyday English it is usually offensive when used about a person. In some technical contexts, it can still mean slowed, delayed, or reduced.
Usage & Nuances
Strong caution: avoid using this for people in modern English, because it is widely heard as a slur. Safer alternatives depend on context: 'intellectual disability', 'developmental delay', 'slow', 'delayed', or 'slowed'. In technical collocations such as 'flame-retardant' or older phrases like 'retarded growth', the meaning is about slowing or delaying, not insulting someone.
Example Sentences
That word is retarded, so please don't use it at school.
basic
The old report says the child's growth was retarded.
basic
Special chemicals are used to make fire spread more retarded.
basic
People still say retarded as a joke, but it sounds really ugly.
natural
That textbook is old enough to use retarded in a clinical way.
natural
If you mean the process was slowed down, say it was delayed, not retarded.
natural