cretine

Cretine is an archaic and now offensive term historically used to describe a person with cretinism, a severe form of developmental impairment associated with untreated congenital hypothyroidism or iodine deficiency. The word entered medical and popular usage in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and its etymology is not definitively established, though it is linked to the diagnosis of congenital thyroid-related conditions.

In medical literature, cretinism referred to a spectrum of deficits present from birth, including intellectual disability, stunted growth, and distinct facial features. As understanding of thyroid function and the effects of iodine deficiency improved, the language shifted away from moralizing labels toward precise clinical diagnoses. Today, the term cretinism is primarily used in historical contexts, or in discussions of how medical language can stigmatize people with disabilities. Contemporary terminology describes the condition as congenital hypothyroidism, often with a focus on early detection and treatment to prevent or mitigate outcomes.

In modern usage, the word crétin remains a pejorative insult in many languages and is regarded as inappropriate for describing individuals. The linguistic shift reflects broader changes toward person-centered and non-discriminatory medical language. For historical study, cretinism is examined as part of the history of endocrinology and disability terminology. See also cretin, congenital hypothyroidism, and cretinism.