Background: The term "intellectual disability" is increasingly used to refer to people with learning disabilities in British learning disability policy, practice and research. This change is undoubtedly a reflection of the changing international context. The inclusion of the term "intellectual disability" has been particularly pronounced in countries such as the USA. By contrast, this change has been relatively silent in England. Methods: In light of this, the paper explores the discussions of 12 focus groups conducted with professional and lay groups working in or influencing learning disability research and practice in England. Each focus group was asked the following two questions: Have you heard of the term "intellectual disability" and how do you feel about the term "intellectual disability?." Discussion and Conclusion: Thematic analysis of the discussions identified four dominant themes: dislike and disbelief; ambiguity; tautology; and fear. It is concluded that more explanation is required in order for researchers and practitioners in England to understand this semantic change.