debilism

D2E1B3I1L1I1S1M3

noun

A hereditary condition characterized by low intelligence in which one can understand words but not abstract concepts.

Scrabble 13

Meanings

noundebilism (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehuman sciencesA hereditary condition characterized by low intelligence in which one can understand words but not abstract concepts.

    Psychological examinations Lower intelligence levels predominated in group B (in 5 out of 7 persons examined, including debilism in 2, and mental retardation in 3).

    1971, Polish Endocrinology, volume 22, page 147
    3 more examples

    - Type 1: low intelligence [the ability of distinguishing various stimuli], low docility [the ability of memorizing any stimuli], low talent [the ability of associating some particular stimuli]. Such type is called "debilism".

    [1977 [1976], Marian Mazur, “Cybernetic Cognition of Intellect”, in Proceedings of the International Congress for Cybernetics, volume 8, Namur: Association Internationale de Cybernétique, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 128

    The old psychiatrists of Eastern Europe also included in their taxonomy "debilism" or "salon debils". This is a qualitative anomaly understood as hereditary and somewhat similar to schizoidia. Such individuals were generally decent, but marked by flat, coaxing talkativeness and an inability to understand any sort of serious matter.

    2006, Andrew M. Lobaczewski, Political Ponerology, Afterword, p. 221-222

    Among the diseases eligible for such surgical intervention [i.e. sterilization], the following medical conditions were included: debilism, schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, […]

    2019 September 30, Kasper Sipowicz, Tadeusz Pietras, “Life unworthy of life – eugenics of “deteriorated” people in the Third Reich”, in Quarterly Journal Fides Et Ratio, volume 39, number 3, →DOI, →ISSN, page 314

Origin

  1. Latindebilis“weak; disabled”
  2. Englishdebilism

Compare Polish debilizm and Russian дебилизм (debilizm), ultimately from Latin debilis (“weak; disabled”). By surface analysis, debile + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

debilism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/debilism

MLA

“debilism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/debilism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “debilism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/debilism.

Source: debilism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.