imbecile

imbecile definition - medical

im·be·cile (ĭmˈbə-sĭl, -səl)

noun
A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

Related Forms:

  • imˈbe·cilˌi·ty (-sĭlˈĭ·tē) noun

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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