Imbecile

Imbecile is an English term that historically referred to a person with a moderate intellectual disability. In contemporary English it is considered an offensive insult and is not used in medical or educational contexts.

The word derives from the Latin imbecillus, "weak, feeble," through the French imbécile. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was used as a formal clinical category along with idiot and moron to classify levels of cognitive impairment. These terms were used in psychiatry, psychology, and education to describe a spectrum of intellectual functioning; imbecile generally referred to a level judged to be more capable than an idiot but less than a moron. The terminology reflected outdated diagnostic practices and the eugenics-era thinking of the period.

Since mid-to-late 20th century, professional terminology shifted to "intellectual disability" or "intellectual developmental disorder," with emphasis on respectful, person-first language. Many health organizations discourage the use of imbecile outside historical discussions. In everyday language, it continues to appear as a pejorative insult or stereotype.

See also: Intellectual disability, Developmental disorders, Eugenics, Slurs and pejorative terms.