Meanings
- idiomaticinformalpredicativeautismHaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum; autistic.
might slag the project as monotonous or, more callously, "on the spectrum"
2023 March 21, Virginia Heffernan, “I Saw the Face of God in a Semiconductor Factory”, in WIRED2 more examples
This sensitivity leads me to understand that there are sections that may not be appropriate for some, particularly younger people on the spectrum.
2002, R. Wayne Gilpin, introduction to Jerry and Mary Newport, Autism-Asperger's & Sexuality: Puberty and Beyond, Future Horizons, pages ix–xTeens of all levels of functioning on the spectrum do not handle vague information well.
2006, Temple Grandin, forward to Chantal Sicile-Kira, Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum, Perigee, page xvSynonyms: spectrumy
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see on, spectrum.
This subsection marks out the different points on the spectrum, starting with a minimal level and moving to a higher level of engagement.
2023 May 30, Rebecca J. Cook, Frontiers of Gender Equality: Transnational Legal Perspectives, University of Pennsylvania Press, →ISBN, page 1662 more examples
[Infrared light] waves are too long to see, but they have enough energy to make your skin feel warm. They come right before visible light on the spectrum.
2012 September 1, Spectrum, Science, Grade 7, Carson-Dellosa Publishing, →ISBN, page 40The basic spectrum model is often coupled with the sex-gender distinction, whereby one's sex is seen as binary and immutable but one's gender can be anywhere on the spectrum.
2019 December 3, Katie Steele, Julie Nicholson, Radically Listening to Transgender Children: Creating Epistemic Justice through Critical Reflection and Resistant Imaginations, Lexington Books, →ISBN, page 70
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseHaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum; autistic.
Origin
Referring to the fact that autism is regarded as a spectrum disorder, that is, manifesting with varying symptoms and severity in different people.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech na spektru
- na spektruhaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
French sur le spectre
- sur le spectrehaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
German auf dem Spektrum
- auf dem Spektrumhaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
Italian nello spettro
- nello spettrohaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
Polish w spektrum
- w spektrumhaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
Portuguese no espectro
- no espectrohaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
Spanish en el espectro
- en el espectrohaving autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
Ukrainian у спектрі
- у спектрі (u spektri)having autism spectrum disorder or exhibiting traits relating to or within the autism spectrum (cognates) — see also autistic
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with on the spectrum
All rhymes →Cite this entry
on the spectrum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20spectrum
“on the spectrum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20spectrum. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on the spectrum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20the%20spectrum.
Source: on the spectrum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.