cerebral palsy

noun

Synonyms of cerebral palsynext
: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances
cerebral-palsied adjective

Examples of cerebral palsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The character had cerebral palsy, as did Mitte, who was diagnosed at age 3. — Marisela Cruz, San Antonio Express-News, 17 Oct. 2026 According to Weisbrod, Layton is expected to have cerebral palsy and may never walk. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026 Hosted by comedian and cerebral palsy advocate Tina Friml, the ceremony took place at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, combining humor with pointed calls for the film and television industry to invest more in recruiting disabled talent. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Her teenage daughter is also autistic and has POTS, an autoimmune disorder, along with cerebral palsy. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cerebral palsy

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cerebral palsy was in 1824

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Cite this Entry

“Cerebral palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebral%20palsy. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

cerebral palsy

noun
: a disease resulting from damage to the brain usually before or during birth and resulting in imperfect control of muscles, paralysis, and speech disturbances

Medical Definition

cerebral palsy

noun
: a disability resulting from damage to the brain before, during, or shortly after birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances see ataxic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy
cerebral palsied adjective

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