Meanings
alternative Down’s syndrome
- AustraliaCanadaIrelandNew ZealandUSuncountableusuallymedical geneticsmedicineA genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21 (a chromosomal excess), whereby the patients typically have a delay in cognitive ability and physical growth, as well as a small head and tilted eyelids.First known use 1961.
Synonyms: Down's, mongolism, Mongolian idiocy, trisomy 21
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21 (a chromosomal excess), whereby the patients typically have a delay in cognitive ability and physical growth, as well as a small head and tilted eyelids.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome; results in a flat face and short stature and mental retardation
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Named after English physician John Langdon Haydon Down (1828–1896), who first described the condition as a distinct form of mental disability in the 1860s.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مُتَلَازِمَة دَاوْن
- مُتَلَازِمَة دَاوْنgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Catalan síndrome de Down
- síndrome de Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Chinese Cantonese 唐氏綜合症 /唐氏综合症, 唐氏症
- 唐氏綜合症 /唐氏综合症 (tong⁴ si⁶ zung³ hap⁶ zing³, tong⁴ si⁶ zung¹ hap⁶ zing³)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- 唐氏症 (tong⁴ si⁶ zing³)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Chinese Mandarin 唐氏綜合症 /唐氏综合症, 唐氏症
- 唐氏綜合症 /唐氏综合症 (Tángshì zōnghézhèng)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- 唐氏症 (Tángshìzhèng)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- 先天性愚型 (xiāntiānxìng yúxíng)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- 蒙古症 (Ménggǔzhèng)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Czech Downův syndrom
- Downův syndromgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Danish Downs syndrom
- Downs syndromgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Dutch syndroom van Down, downsyndroom
- syndroom van Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- downsyndroomgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- mongolismegenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Estonian Downi sündroom
- Downi sündroomgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Finnish Downin oireyhtymä, Downin syndrooma
- Downin oireyhtymägenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- Downin syndroomagenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
French syndrome de Down, trisomie 21
- syndrome de Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- trisomie 21genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
German Downsyndrom, Down-Syndrom
- Downsyndromgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- Down-Syndromgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- Trisomie 21genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
- Mongolismusgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Greek σύνδρομο Down
- σύνδρομο Down (sýndromo Down)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Hebrew תסמונת דאון \ תִּסְמֹנֶת דָּאוּן
- תסמונת דאון \ תִּסְמֹנֶת דָּאוּן (tismónet daun)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Hindi डाउन सिंड्रोम
- डाउन सिंड्रोम (ḍāun siṇḍrom)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Hungarian Down-szindróma
- Down-szindrómagenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Indonesian sindrom Down
- sindrom Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Italian sindrome di Down
- sindrome di Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Japanese ダウン症
- ダウン症 (Daun-shō)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Korean 다운 증후군
- 다운 증후군 (daun jeunghugun)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Lithuanian Dauno sindromas
- Dauno sindromasgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Malay sindrom Down
- sindrom Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Norwegian Bokmål Downs syndrom
- Downs syndromgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Persian سندرم داون
- سندرم داونgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Polish zespół Downa
- zespół Downagenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Portuguese síndrome de Down
- síndrome de Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Russian синдром Дауна
- синдром Дауна (sindrom Dauna)genetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Spanish síndrome de Down
- síndrome de Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Swedish Downs syndrom
- Downs syndromgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Turkish Down sendromu
- Down sendromugenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Vietnamese hội chứng Down
- hội chứng Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Welsh syndrom Down
- syndrom Downgenetic disorder caused by a chromosomal excess
Cite this entry
Down syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Down%20syndrome
“Down syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Down%20syndrome. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Down syndrome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Down%20syndrome.
Source: Down syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.