Meanings
plural retardees
- datedoffensiveA person with an intellectual disability.
Mental retardation specialists were beginning to realize that trained paraprofessionals were needed to provide adequate care to mental retardees.
1975, United States. National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing Education, Program Evaluation, Title 1 of the Higher Education Act, page 761 more example
There is still a large waiting list here at the hospital for Negro mental retardees to enter this institution. If we were to completely erase this waiting list, we would need approximately 400 more beds for the care of Negro mental retardees.
1961, Mississippi Department Reports, volume 2, page 42
Origin
Cite this entry
retardee. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardee
“retardee.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardee. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retardee,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardee.
Source: retardee on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.