Meaning & use
neurodiversity
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
The idea that differences in how people's brains work are normal and valuable.
Grammar: Uncountable: use it without an or an, e.g. neurodiversity is important.
Patterns
- neurodiversity in the workplace
- embrace neurodiversity
- awareness of neurodiversity
The company's training program focuses on neurodiversity and how to support different thinking styles.
Neurodiversity is often discussed in schools to help teachers understand students with autism or ADHD.
She wrote an article about neurodiversity and why it should be celebrated, not treated as a problem.
Common combinations
- neurodiversity movement
- The neurodiversity movement argues that conditions like autism are not disorders to be cured.
- neurodiversity awareness
- The event aimed to raise neurodiversity awareness among employers.
- celebrate neurodiversity
- The school holds a week each year to celebrate neurodiversity.
- neurodiversity in the workplace
- More companies are hiring consultants to improve neurodiversity in the workplace.
Synonyms and how they differ
- neurological diversity
- A more formal, less common phrase with the same meaning.
- cognitive diversity
- Similar but broader; it can also refer to differences in thinking styles not linked to diagnosed conditions.
Opposites
Word family
- neurodiverse adjective
- Describing a group or person with a range of neurological differences.
- neurodivergent adjective
- Describing a person whose brain works differently from what is considered typical.
- neurotypical adjective
- Describing a person whose brain functions in the way most people's do.
Commonly confused: neurodiversity or neurodiversion?
neurodiversity vs neurodiversion
Not a standard word; do not confuse it with neurodiversity, which is about brain differences.
Practice
The seminar taught managers how to support ______ in their teams.
Choose one answer.
Neurodiversity is the uncountable noun needed here. Neurodiverse and neurodivergent are adjectives, and neurotypical describes someone with typical brain function.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “neurodiversity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.