Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to Down syndrome: Of, relating to, or affected by Down syndrome. This usage is now considered dated and offensive in medical and general contexts.
   • Relating to a historical racial classification: Of, relating to, or characteristic of one of the traditional, now largely discredited, racial divisions of humankind, especially including peoples from Central and Eastern Asia.
   • Resembling a Mongol: Characteristic of or resembling a Mongol. This usage is often considered pejorative.

2. Noun:

   • A person with Down syndrome: A person affected by Down syndrome. This term is now considered highly offensive and is no longer used in technical or sensitive contexts.
   • A member of a historical racial group: A member of the so-called Mongoloid racial division.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The term 'mongoloid' was once used to describe certain physical features associated with Down syndrome.
  • In outdated anthropological texts, populations from East Asia were classified as 'mongoloid'.

• Noun:

  • Using 'mongoloid' as a noun to refer to a person with Down syndrome is unacceptable.
  • The classification divided humans into Caucasoid, Negroid, and Mongoloid groups.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Anthropological Context: The term is primarily encountered in historical or anthropological discussions about outdated racial theories. Its use requires careful contextualization to acknowledge its problematic nature.
  • The 19th-century concept of the "Mongoloid race" has been thoroughly discredited by modern genetics.

Variants and Related Words

• Mongolism (n): An obsolete and offensive term for Down syndrome.
• Mongolian (adj/n): Properly refers to something or someone from Mongolia. This is the correct, non-offensive term for nationality and ethnicity related to Mongolia.

Synonyms

• For the racial classification sense (historical): Asiatic (also outdated and often offensive), East Asian (precise and preferred modern term for geography/ethnicity).
• For Down syndrome (modern preferred terms): Having Down syndrome, a person with Down syndrome. The condition itself is correctly termed Down syndrome or Trisomy 21.

Important Usage Note

The word 'mongoloid' is considered archaic, scientifically invalid, and highly offensive in contemporary usage, especially when referring to Down syndrome or as a racial descriptor. Its use can cause significant hurt and stigma. Modern, respectful language should always be used instead. - For Down syndrome: Use "person with Down syndrome" or "has Down syndrome." - For ethnic/geographic description: Use precise terms like "East Asian," "Southeast Asian," "of Chinese descent," etc., or the specific nationality (e.g., Japanese, Korean).

Adjective

1. of or relating to or suffering from Down syndrome;
2. of or pertaining to or characteristic of one of the traditional racial division of humankind including especially peoples of central and eastern Asia
3. characteristic of or resembling a Mongol
   • the mongoloid epicanthic fold

Noun

1. a person suffering from Down syndrome (no longer used technically in this sense)
2. a member of the Mongoloid race