autism spectrum disorder WORD ORIGIN noun Pathology. any of various disorders, as autism and Asperger syndrome, commonly manifesting in early childhood and characterized by impaired social or communication skills, repetitive behaviors, or a restricted range of interests. Liberaldictionary.com
See also spectrum disorder. Origin of autism spectrum disorder First recorded in 1990–95 Also called autistic spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorder. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019