Also written: Mentally retarded, The r-word
| Source | Year | Position |
|---|---|---|
| SumOfUs | 2016 | Avoid |
| National Center on Disability and Journalism | 2021 | Avoid |
| American Psychological Association | 2023 | Avoid |
| Diversity Style Guide | 2023 | Avoid |
“Terms avoided/questioned by disability rights activists: … psycho … retarded … schizo … schizophrenic (never use to mean "of two minds")”
SumOfUs lists "retarded" among the terms avoided or questioned by disability rights activists, contrasting them with person-first forms such as "person who has [a condition]."
“Do not use the term retarded or other iterations. If you are going to use it in a quote, consider that decision carefully, as the word is particularly charged. … the term "intellectually disabled" is acceptable.”
NCDJ — the chapter's anchor source — instructs writers not to use "retarded" or its variants, calling the word particularly charged, and points to the specific disability or "intellectual disability" (preferably person-first: "a person with an intellectual disability"). It notes that in 2010 Rosa's Law replaced "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" across much of U.S. federal law.
“Term to avoid: mentally retarded. Suggested alternative: child with a birth impairment.”
APA's term-to-avoid table lists "mentally retarded" (alongside "mentally challenged" and "handicapped"), prescribing person-first phrasing such as "people with intellectual disabilities" instead.
“The terms mentally retarded, retard and mental retardation were once common terms that are now considered outdated and offensive. … the terms mental disability, intellectual disability and developmental disability are acceptable. Use people-first language.”
The Diversity Style Guide treats "mentally retarded," "retard," and "mental retardation" as offensive, citing Rosa's Law, and prefers the specific disability or person-first "people with mental disabilities" — with historical-quote use attributed and noted.
This is the most charged term in the chapter, and the corpus is unanimous: do not use it. NCDJ — the chapter’s anchor — instructs writers not to use “retarded” or any of its variants, calling the word particularly charged; the Diversity Style Guide files “mentally retarded,” “retard,” and “mental retardation” together as offensive; APA’s term-to-avoid table prescribes “people with intellectual disabilities”; and SumOfUs places it among the terms disability rights activists reject. The preferred replacement is the specific condition, or the person-first “person with an intellectual disability.”
The law moved with the language. In 2010, Rosa’s Law replaced “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability” across much of U.S. federal statute — both NCDJ and the Diversity Style Guide cite it. That shift marks the clinical term’s retirement, not merely a stylistic preference.
The exception the sources allow is narrow. NCDJ asks writers to weigh even quoted use carefully, “as the word is particularly charged”; the Diversity Style Guide treats any historical use as something to attribute and contextualize, never to reproduce in one’s own voice. The guidance is consistent from 2016 through 2023. This page pairs with disability.