arrested development, 1. the cessation of one or more phases of the developmental process in utero before normal completion, resulting in congenital anomalies. 2. a form of intellectual disability that develops in some children after they have progressed normally for the first 3 to 4 years of life. Can be classified as cognitive impairments, learning disorders, motor skills disorders, communication disorders, or pervasive developmental disorders. Also called developmental arrest.
