neurotypical

neu·ro·typ·i·cal
N1E1U1R1O1T1Y4P3I1C3A1L1
UK/ˌnjʊə.ɹəʊˈtɪ.pɪ.kəl/US/ˌnʊ.ɹoʊˈtɪ.pɪ.kəl/

adjective

Having a typical way of processing sensory, linguistic, and social information.

Similar
First used early 21st c.Scrabble 19

Meanings

adjectiveneurotypical (comparative more neurotypical, superlative most neurotypical)

comparative more neurotypical · superlative most neurotypical

  1. Having a typical way of processing sensory, linguistic, and social information.First known use early 21st c.

    Nancy, a high school student, saw herself as being helpful when she told Maureen, a neurotypical peer, that the horizontal lines on her shirt made her look fat.

    2001, Brenda Smith Myles, Diane Adreon, Jennifer Stella, Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence, page 17
    1 more example

    If our definition of empathy were to require we take the human cognitive norm (overwhelmingly influenced by neurotypical cognition) as the absolute standard by which to measure empathy, then indeed we would have to conclude autistics do not instinctively possess a good sense of empathy.

    2006, Alan Griswold, Autistic Symphony

    Synonyms: NT · Antonyms: neuroatypical, neurodivergent, aneurotypical, neurodiverse

    1. strictly; typically proscribed; strictly; typically proscribedNot autistic; allistic.

      Think of neurotypical folks as generalists and autistic folks as specialists.

      2002, Lisa B. Elliott, Embarrassed Often Ashamed Never: Quips and Short Stories from One Family's Ongoing Adventure With Asperger Syndrome and Autism, Shawnee Mission, Kan.: Autism Asperger Pub. Co., →ISBN, page 7

      Synonyms: NT · Antonyms: neuroatypical, neurodivergent, aneurotypical, neurodiverse

nounneurotypical (plural neurotypicals)

plural neurotypicals

  1. One who is neurotypical.

    Well, let's face it, neurotypicals don't have the same focus you or I have. They always get distracted, by marriage, kids, competitive cooking shows.

    2013 February 21, “Conventions of Space and Time”, in Community, season 4, episode 3 (Television), spoken by Toby (Matt Lucas)

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveHaving a typical way of processing sensory, linguistic, and social information.

Similar

adjectiveNot autistic; allistic.

Similar
Also see

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*(s)neh₁-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*snéh₁wr̥
  3. Ancient Greekνεῦρον (neûron)
  4. Ancient Greekνευρο- (neuro-)
  5. Englishneuro-
  6. Englishtypical
  7. Englishneurotypical

From neuro- + typical.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan neurotípic
  • neurotípichaving normal way of processing information
Chinese Mandarin 神經典型 /神经典型
  • 神經典型 /神经典型 (shénjīngdiǎnxíng)having normal way of processing information
Dutch neurotypisch
  • neurotypischhaving normal way of processing information
Finnish neurotyypillinen
  • neurotyypillinenhaving normal way of processing information
French neurotypique
  • neurotypiquehaving normal way of processing information
German neurotypisch
  • neurotypischhaving normal way of processing information
Greek νευροτυπικός
  • νευροτυπικός (nevrotypikós)having normal way of processing information
Italian neurotipico
  • neurotipicohaving normal way of processing information
Korean 신경전형적
  • 신경전형적 (sin'gyeongjeonhyeongjeok)having normal way of processing information
Latin neurotypicus
  • neurotypicushaving normal way of processing information
Polish neurotypowy
  • neurotypowyhaving normal way of processing information
Portuguese neurotípico
  • neurotípicohaving normal way of processing information
Spanish neurotípico
  • neurotípicohaving normal way of processing information
Swedish neurotypisk
  • neurotypiskhaving normal way of processing information

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with neurotypical

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

neurotypical. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neurotypical

MLA

“neurotypical.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neurotypical. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “neurotypical,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/neurotypical.

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