autists

Autists is the plural of autist, a noun referring to people with autism spectrum disorder.

The term is clinical in origin but has developed distinct usage patterns: in medical and advocacy contexts, many prefer "autistic people" or "people with autism," while autist remains common in online communities where autistic individuals often use it as neutral self-description.

In internet slang, particularly on forums like 4chan and Reddit, autist has become both self-deprecating humor and a term for someone with intense, obsessive focus on niche interests: The autists on that subreddit figured out the company's location from a reflection in a doorknob.