1 stillborn | Definition of stillborn

stillborn

adjective
still·​born | \ ˈstil-ˈbȯrn How to pronounce stillborn (audio) \

Definition of stillborn

1 : dead at birth
2 : failing from the start : abortive, unsuccessful a stillborn venture

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Other Words from stillborn

stillborn \ ˈstil-​ËŒbȯrn How to pronounce stillborn (audio) \ noun

Examples of stillborn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The case began to unfold in July 2017, when a doctor told police that Richardson may have delivered a stillborn baby. Steve Helling, PEOPLE.com, "Ohio Cheerleader Allegedly Searched Online for 'How Do I Get Rid of a Baby' Before Killing Newborn," 4 Sep. 2019 Richardson’s attorneys have said the baby was stillborn and that the then-teen was sad and frightened. Dan Sewell, BostonGlobe.com, "Efforts to seat jury set to begin in newborn killing case," 2 Sep. 2019 With his worries amplified by recent Russian pressure to put in place the stillborn union state, Mr. Lukashenko has now started trumpeting his country’s ancient roots. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, "As Putin Pushes a Merger, Belarus Resists With Language, Culture and History," 29 June 2019 Prosecutors claimed that Hofeller had given birth while in chains, in the couple’s basement, and that Lizon had buried a stillborn child in their back yard. Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, "A Father, a Daughter, and the Attempt to Change the Census," 13 July 2019 Within the mausoleum, there is a crypt for families who have lost an infant or had a stillborn child, to entomb their children at no cost. Alexandra Desanctis, National Review, "The Church Challenging Washington State’s One-Size-Fits-All Abortion Requirement," 10 July 2019 Two days after announcing her miscarriage, Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth, is saying goodbye to her stillborn baby alongside her husband, Austin Forsyth. Eric Todisco, PEOPLE.com, "Joy-Anna Duggar Shares Photo Holding Stillborn Baby After Suffering 20-Week Miscarriage," 5 July 2019 Not long into my doula work, my client and best friend gave birth to her stillborn daughter. al.com, "Reckon Women interview with Ashley Lovell," 2 July 2019 Her brother and heir to both of their parents' thrones, Juan, died of an illness in the fall of 1497, and though his wife, Margaret of Austria, was pregnant at the time, the child was stillborn. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, "What Was Catherine of Aragon's Sister, Juana la Loca, Really Like?," 10 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stillborn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of stillborn

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for stillborn

stillborn

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of stillborn

of a baby : dead at birth
: never able to begin operating or proceeding

stillborn

adjective
still·​born | \ -ˈbȯ(É™)rn How to pronounce stillborn (audio) \

Medical Definition of stillborn

: dead at birth — compare live-born

Other Words from stillborn

stillborn \ -​ËŒbȯ(É™)rn How to pronounce stillborn (audio) \ noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stillborn

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with stillborn

Spanish Central: Translation of stillborn

Nglish: Translation of stillborn for Spanish Speakers