neurodiverse

neu·ro·di·verse
N1E1U1R1O1D2I1V4E1R1S1E1
UK/ˌnjʊəɹə(ʊ)daɪˈvɜːs/US/ˌn(j)ʊɹoʊˌdaɪˈvɝs/US/-dəˈvɝs/

adjective

Of a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; varying in mental configuration from others, especially being on the autism spectrum; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people.

Opposite
First used early 21st c.Scrabble 16

Meanings

adjectiveneurodiverse (comparative more neurodiverse, superlative most neurodiverse)

comparative more neurodiverse · superlative most neurodiverse

  1. Of a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; varying in mental configuration from others, especially being on the autism spectrum; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people.First known use early 21st c.

    "Out of the trauma of COVID came the recognition that working from home does benefit some people who are neurodiverse," says Foster.

    2024 February 21, Nick Brodrick, “Inclusion and development for all”, in RAIL, number 1003, page 62
    1 more example

    But while programmes at companies including Microsoft and accounting firm EY are small and focused around supporting neurodiverse workers in the office, Ultranauts has redesigned its entire business around neurodiverse employees, changing hiring efforts to actively recruit and accommodate individuals on the autism spectrum.

    2019 October 21, Robbie Wojciechowski, “Worklife 101: Where 75% of Workers are on the Autistic Spectrum”, in BBC Online, archived from the original on 06 Dec 2022

    Synonyms: aneurotypical, neuroatypical, neurodivergent · Antonyms: neurotypical

  2. Of or pertaining to neurodivergent people or groups.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveOf a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; varying in mental configuration from others, especially being on the autism spectrum; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people.

Opposite

Origin

From neuro- (prefix denoting the nervous system) + diverse, probably modelled on neurodiversity which was coined by the Australian sociologist Judy Singer (born 1951) in her 1998 Bachelor of Arts dissertation. The latter word was popularized by Harvey Blume in a September 1998 article in The Atlantic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch neurodivers, neurodivers
  • neurodiversof a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people
  • neurodiversof or pertaining to neurodivergent people or groups
Finnish ei-neurotyypillinen, ei-neurotyypillinen
  • ei-neurotyypillinenof a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people
  • ei-neurotyypillinenof or pertaining to neurodivergent people or groups
Spanish neurodiverso, neurodiverso
  • neurodiversoof a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people
  • neurodiversoof or pertaining to neurodivergent people or groups
Welsh niwroamrywiol, niwroamrywiol
  • niwroamrywiolof a person: exhibiting neurodiversity; of a group: made up of neurodivergent people
  • niwroamrywiolof or pertaining to neurodivergent people or groups

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with neurodiverse

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

neurodiverse. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neurodiverse

MLA

“neurodiverse.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neurodiverse. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “neurodiverse,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neurodiverse.

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