List of disability-related terms with negative connotations

The following is a list of terms used to describe disabilities or people with disabilities, which may carry negative connotations or be offensive to people with or without disabilities. Some people consider it best to use person-first language, for example "a person with a disability" rather than "a disabled person". However identity-first language, as in "autistic person" or "deaf person", is preferred by many people and organizations.

Language can influence individuals' perception of disabled people and disability. For some terms, the grammar structure of their use determine if they are harmful. The person-first stance advocates for saying "people with disabilities" instead of "the disabled" or "a person who is deaf" instead of "a deaf person". However, some advocate against this, saying it reflects a medical model of disability whereas "disabled person" is more appropriate and reflects the social model of disability. On the other hand, there is also a grammar structure called identity-first language that construes disability as a function of social and political experiences occurring within a world designed largely for non-disabled people.

A TermNotesReferencesA few sandwiches short of a picnicUsed of people perceived as having reduced or limited mental faculties. Numerous derivatives with no known original (e.g. "a few books short of a library").Able-bodiedThere may be an implied value judgement comparing a person with a disability versus one without.AbnormalAddictAfflictedAttention-seekingUsed of people who are suffering emotionallyAcousticAn intentional malformation of autistic, used as a synonym in pejorative contextsAutisticOr autism, when used as an insult

B TermNotesReferencesBattyBirth defectBlindEspecially when used metaphorically (e.g., "blind to criticism") or preceded by "the", although "the blind" is considered acceptable by many blind people and organizations such as the National Federation of the Blind.BonkersBrain damaged

C TermNotesReferencesChallengedCrazyCrazy cat ladyUsed of mentally ill and neurotic women, particularly single women and spinsters who hoard cats.CretinCripple"A person with a physical or mobility impairment". Its shortened form ("crip") has been reclaimed by some people with disabilities as a positive identity.Confined to a wheelchairMay imply helplessness, and that someone is to be pitied.

D TermNotesReferencesDaftPeople considered nonsensical or fecklessDeaf and dumb or Deaf-muteDeaf to XDefectiveOr other uses of "defect"DeformedDelusionalDementedPeople with dementiaDeranged or mentally derangedDerpConsidered by some to refer to people with intellectual disabilitiesDifferently abledDim or dim-wittedDALYs/DFLYs/QALYs: Disability or Quality Adjusted (or Free) Life YearsMight suggest that a nondisabled person's life years are worth more than a disabled person'sThe Disabled or Disabled peopleMay be offensive to some, who may prefer "person with a disability" or "people with health conditions or impairments". However, many people prefer "disabled person" or "disabled people", in part due to the social model of disability.DisorderDotardDownieUsed of people with Down Syndrome. A Dutch profanity sometimes appearing in English as "downy" and generally considered derogatoryDumbEspecially when preceded by "the"Dummy and dumbUsed of people with mental disabilities, or more generally people perceived as stupid or ignorant. Once used to describe people incapable of speaking, suggestive of an insulting mannequin-like or ventriloquist's dummy-like appearance.Dwarf

E TermNotesReferencesEpileptic

F TermNotesReferencesFeeble-minded or FeebFitIn reference to an epileptic seizureFlidPeople with phocomelia from birth mother's use of thalidomideFreak

G TermNotesReferencesGimp or gimpyA limp or a person with a limp

H TermNotesReferencesHandicappedEspecially when preceded by "the" or "physically"HandicapableHare lipHearing-impairedHomeboundHunchback, or "humpback"Especially when referring to people with scoliosis or kyphosis. Generated controversy after the 1990s release of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (see Quasimodo below).HyperHyper-sensitiveHystericalTypically used in reference to women

I TermNotesReferencesImbecileWas originally the diagnostic term used for people with IQ scores between 30 and 50 when the IQ test was first developed in the early 1900s. It is no longer used professionally. Before the IQ test was developed in 1905, "imbecile" was also commonly used as a casual insult towards anyone perceived as incompetent at doing something...IncapacitatedIdiotWas originally the diagnostic term used for people with IQ scores under 30 when the IQ test was first developed in the early 1900s. It is also no longer used professionally. Before the IQ test was developed in 1905, "idiot" was also commonly used as a casual insult towards anyone perceived as incompetent at doing something.IlliterateSome now consider the term imprecise and blaming the person for something caused by the condition of the educational system.InmateWhen referring to a psychiatric admissionInsaneInspirational or inspiringWhen used about somebody doing a ordinary activity, a phenomenon of spectacle known as "inspiration porn" that is based on pity; not to be confused with public activities of mass spectacle such as Special Olympics or Paralympics, which celebrate talent without pity or mockery.Invalid

J TermNotesReferencesJunkie

L TermNotesReferencesLameIn reference to difficulty walking or moving. The term has since been adopted into slang to generally refer to something or someone as "meaningless" or "without worth", e.g. "He told us a lame excuse for why he had not done the work."Losing one's mindLosing / Lost one's marblesLPC: Likely to become a public chargeLunatic or looney

M TermNotesReferencesMad, madman, madwomanSome individuals with mental illness tend to use this term to change the negative stigma surrounding it (see Mad Pride)Mad as a hatter or Mad hatterDerogatory term (referring to a mentally ill person or a person with brain damage and dementia caused by heavy metal poisoning) popularized especially due to the fictional character of the same nameManiacMental, mentally deficient, mental case or mentally illMidgetMong, Mongol, Mongoloid, or MongolismUsed of people with Down syndromeMoron, moronicMunchkinSee "Midget" above. A term derived from the 1930s feature film The Wizard of Oz which had a cast of Little Persons.MuteMutantreferring to someone with an uncommon genetic mutation

N TermNotesReferencesNarc, narcissistNeurospicyNot the brightest bulb / Not the sharpest tool in the shedMentally disabled derogatory termNut, nuts, or nutter, nuthouse, etc.

O TermNotesReferencesOut to lunchMentally disabled derogatory term

P TermNotesReferencesPatientParaplegicPsycho(tic)PsychopathA dated term used for a person with a mental illness

Q TermNotesReferencesQuasimodoTranslates to "half-formed" or more commonly "deformed", and made infamous by the fictional character Quasimodo, a deformed man with kyphosis who later appeared in a popular Disney film in the 1990s (see Hunchback above)

R TermNotesReferencesRetard/RetardedBefore the 1990s this was considered acceptable by most non-disabled people and organizations. Also known as "the r-word". RestartedAlgospeak for "retarded".

S TermNotesReferencesScatterbrainedSchizoEspecially as an adjective, meaning "erratic" or "unpredictable" or, for the former two, to refer to an individualSchizophrenicWhen referring to an individual(has a) Screw looseBritish slang term that originally meant eccentric, neurotic or slightly mentally ill; generally considered offensive to mentally ill peopleSenileSlowSluggishSociopathSpastic/SpazEspecially in the UK and Ireland. Previously referred to muscle spasticity or a person with cerebral palsy, which may involve muscle spasms. Also used to insult someone uncoordinated or making jerking movements.SpecialSpecial needsSPEDAn acronym of "special ed" (short for "special education")Stone deafStrickenStupidSubnormalSupercripSufferer

T TermNotesReferencesTardShort for "retard"; see retard above.ThickWriting about Disabled People Guidelines for journalists from GLAD (Greater London Action on Disability) http://www.mediawise.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Writing_about_disabled_people.pdf, Accessed 27 August 2020Tone deaf

U TermNotesReferencesUncleanUnfortunateUnhinged

V TermNotesReferencesVictim of an ailmentVegetableVegetative state

W TermNotesReferencesWackoWheelchair boundPreferred use by some is "person who uses a wheelchair"Window licker

Y TermNotesReferences Yuppie flu Used as a pejorative term for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This originated from the media stereotype of people with CFS as ambitious, young, and affluent ("yuppies"), rather than having a genuine illness.

See also Ableism List of age-related terms with negative connotations List of ethnic slurs

References

External links Disability etiquette - Tips On Interacting With People With Disabilities – United Spinal Association Inclusive language: words to use when writing about disability - Office for Disability Issues and Department for Work and Pensions (UK) List of terms to avoid when writing about disability – National Center on Disability and Journalism