# retard

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɹɪˈtɑː(ɹ)d/ · frequency rank #17,936

## Definitions
1. A retardation; a delay.
2. A slowing down of the tempo; a ritardando.
3. A person with mental retardation.
4. A person or being who is extremely stupid or slow to learn.

## Etymology
From Middle English retarden, from Anglo-Norman or Latin, from Anglo-Norman retarder, from Latin retardāre (“to retard”), from re- + tardus (“slow”).

## Easily confused with
- **retro** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retro)
- **retry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retry)
- **return** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-return)
- **reward** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-reward)
- **retire** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retire)
- **rotary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-rotary)
- **retort** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retort)
- **retired** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retired)
- **retards** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retards)
- **retarded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retarded)
- **read** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/read-vs-retard)
- **rear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rear-vs-retard)
- **rebar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rebar-vs-retard)
- **record** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/record-vs-retard)
- **retail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retail-vs-retard)
- **regard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regard-vs-retard)
- **retain** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retain-vs-retard)
- **remark** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remark-vs-retard)
- **repaid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/repaid-vs-retard)
- **retake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retake-vs-retard)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ertard`, `reatrd`, `retadr`, `retardd`, `retarrd`, `retrad`, `rettard`, `rretard`, `rteard`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/retard