The comedian claims that its meaning has changed from a derogatory term for those suffering with the chromosome disorder to meaning nothing more than ‘complete idiot’.
However, campaigners angrily dismissed this defence.
The award-winning star of The Office has repeatedly posted references to mongs on his personal Twitter account and blog.
These have included phrases such as ‘good monging everyone’ and ‘two mongs don’t make a right’, as well as posting pictures of himself gurning.
He also used the word to describe thousands of people who camped out to line the streets of London before the royal wedding in April.
About 750 babies each year will have Down’s syndrome and there are 60,000 people in the UK with the condition, which is the most common cause of learning disability.
It occurs by chance at conception and is irreversible.
Gervais, 50 – who has more than 435,600 followers on Twitter – said yesterday: ‘I have used the word mong but I have never used that word to mean Down’s syndrome and never would.
‘I have explained, even during stand-up shows, that the meaning of words changes over time. Gay, for example, would never be used to mean happy any more.
‘The modern use of the word mong means “dopey” or “ignorant”.’
But Penny Green, director of the Down’s Heart Group charity, said: ‘I refute his suggestion that the word has changed its meaning.
‘We come across people every day who still think the term applies to people with Down’s.
His actions have proved incredibly upsetting and distressing to families of disabled children, as we’ve seen on Twitter and our own forums.
Ricky is telling everyone it’s acceptable to use this derogatory term.’
Gervais further tried to justify his use of the term by posting on Twitter a link to the internetslang website which lists the word as meaning ‘complete idiot’.
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