# retarded

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈtɑːdɪd/ · frequency rank #10,755

## Definitions
1. Delayed; delayed in development, hindered; impeded.
2. Having mental retardation; mentally deficient or underdeveloped.
3. Specifically, having an IQ below 70.
4. Extremely stupid; obtuse
5. Designating a parameter of an electromagnetic field which is adjusted to account for the finite speed of radiation.

## Etymology
From retard + -ed.

## Easily confused with
- **retired** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retarded-vs-retired)
- **retards** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retarded-vs-retards)
- **returned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retarded-vs-returned)
- **rewarded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retarded-vs-rewarded)
- **retorted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retarded-vs-retorted)
- **retard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retard-vs-retarded)
- **reared** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reared-vs-retarded)
- **recorded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/recorded-vs-retarded)
- **regarded** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/regarded-vs-retarded)
- **retained** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/retained-vs-retarded)
- **remarked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remarked-vs-retarded)
- **restarted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/restarted-vs-retarded)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ertarded`, `reatrded`, `retadred`, `retardde`, `retardded`, `retardedd`, `retaredd`, `retarrded`, `retraded`, `rettarded`, `rretarded`, `rtearded`

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