EPISODE · May 15, 2026 · 2 MIN
#30: Moron — A Real Medical Diagnosis That Became a Playground Slur
from The Why of Words
Explore the surprising origin of 'moron' — a word now used as a casual insult but originally a legitimate medical diagnosis. In 1910, American psychologist Henry Goddard coined this clinical term to classify intellectual disability, transforming it from medical vocabulary into everyday vernacular.---More from Sticky Note Podcasts:Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)stickynotepodcasts.com
What this episode covers
Explore the surprising origin of 'moron' — a word now used as a casual insult but originally a legitimate medical diagnosis. In 1910, American psychologist Henry Goddard coined this clinical term to classify intellectual disability, transforming it from medical vocabulary into everyday vernacular. --- More from Sticky Note Podcasts: Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips) stickynotepodcasts.com
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#30: Moron — A Real Medical Diagnosis That Became a Playground Slur
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