cerebral palsy

noun

Synonyms of cerebral palsy

: 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

sə-ˈrē-brəl-ˈpȯl-zēd

ˈser-ə-,

ˈse-rə-

adjective

Examples of cerebral palsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Krieger has cerebral palsy and relies on his custom power wheelchair to get around. — Zach Wichter, USA Today, 4 June 2026 They are witnessed from a window by Amir, a 10-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026 Born with cerebral palsy, he's required to undergo different kinds of occupational and physical therapy weekly in order to improve his quality of life. — Conor Wight, CBS News, 2 July 2026 Now 29, Dallas is raising her three young sons while also caring for her 33-year-old sister, Tati, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and her 17-year-old brother, David. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 24 June 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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cerebral palsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cerebral%20palsy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

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

cerebral palsy

noun

Examples of cerebral palsy in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on cerebral palsy

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes