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autistic

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Etymology and origin of the English word autistic

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1911 Journal of Mental Science
Borrowed from
German autistisch
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek αὐτός

Pronunciation

  • UK: /ɔːˈtɪs.tɪk/[1]
  • US: /ɔˈtɪs.tɪk/, /ɑˈtɪs.tɪk/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from German autistisch, coined in 1910 by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler,[2][3] from Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, “self”) and the German suffix -istisch, after Autismus, the source of autism.[2][3] In English the ending was remodelled after -ic or -istic.[2] Etymonline dates the adjective to 1912 and derives it from autism.[4] The Greek word is the source of auto-.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Of the nature of autism in Bleuler's sense, that is, detached from reality: 1911, in the Journal of Mental Science.[2] This sense is now historical.[2]

Semantic evolution

Bleuler coined the word in the belief that people with the condition were withdrawn from reality, in the same way as he coined schizophrenia.[3] Etymonline describes the original notion as morbid self-absorption.[4] After 1942, when Leo Kanner used it in a letter, the adjective came to refer to what is now called an autism spectrum disorder; since 1958 it has also described a person diagnosed with one.[2] Merriam-Webster gives 1954 as the first known use of the adjective.[5] The noun, a person with autism, is recorded in the OED from 1940,[2] in Merriam-Webster from 1965,[5] and in Etymonline from 1968, earlier autist being used in this sense.[4] Since 1988 it has also been used colloquially, often offensively, of people without autism who show traits thought to suggest it.[2] The saying "If you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person" was in print by 2006, its author unknown.[6]

Timeline

  • 1911 – detached from reality, in Bleuler's sense of autism (now historical).[2]
  • 1912 – first record according to Etymonline.[4]
  • 1940 – noun, a person with autism.[2]
  • 1942 – relating to an autism spectrum disorder.[2]
  • 1958 – of a person, diagnosed with autism.[2]
  • 1988 – colloquial, often offensive use of people without autism.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Relating to, having or showing autism: an autistic child.[5][2][1]
  2. (colloquial, often offensive) Of a person without autism: showing traits thought to suggest it, such as social awkwardness or obsessive focus.[2][1]

Noun

  1. A person who has autism.[5][2][1]

Word family

  • autistically

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Popik, Barry, The Big Apple, barrypopik.com, p. "If you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person", 25 April 2013

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Autistic.” Etymologically, 31 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/autistic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·