Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
retardation
In technical, mechanical, or scientific contexts, the term is a neutral descriptor for deceleration or the delay of a process. It describes a physical shift in velocity or a chemical lag without any negative moral weight. In social and medical contexts, the word has evolved into a severe pejorative. Once a standard clinical label, it is now widely considered offensive and dehumanizing. Using it to describe people is generally seen as a hateful slur rather than a medical diagnosis in modern English.
Countable when referring to specific instances of slowing, such as different types of flame retardation. Uncountable when referring to the general physical phenomenon of deceleration.
Meanings
The act of slowing down the progress or speed of something.
"The application of the brakes caused a rapid retardation of the vehicle."
The slowing of a chemical reaction or physical process.
"The presence of an inhibitor leads to the retardation of the curing process."
A historical clinical term for a cognitive impairment.
"The patient was diagnosed with mental retardation in the 1960s."