microcephaly

noun

mi·​cro·​ceph·​a·​ly ˌmī-krō-ˈse-fə-lē 

: a condition of abnormal smallness of the circumference of the head that is present at birth or develops within the first few years of life and is often associated with developmental delays, impaired cognitive development, poor coordination and balance, deficits in hearing and vision, and seizures

Examples of microcephaly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Zika virus is another illness primarily spread by mosquitoes with infection during pregnancy potentially causing fetuses to develop a birth defect called microcephaly. —Dr. Andrew Bernstein, Boston Herald, 13 Aug. 2025

The emotional and psychological costs aside, the economic costs — anywhere from $1 million to $10 million over a lifetime for one case of microcephaly — are devastating. —Robin Taylor Wilson, STAT, 5 Apr. 2020

And more than half mistakenly thought that the increase in microcephaly cases came about because of childhood vaccinations or a chemical used against the larvae of mosquitoes that transmit Zika to humans. —Gary Stix, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2020

And more than half believed the DTaP vaccine contributed to the uptick in babies born with microcephaly. —oregonlive, 8 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin microcephalia, from microcephalus microcephalic, from micr- + Greek kephalē head — more at cephalic

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microcephaly

• anencephaly

Medical Definition

microcephaly

noun

mi·​cro·​ceph·​a·​ly -ˈsef-ə-lē 

plural microcephalies

: a condition of abnormal smallness of the circumference of the head that is present at birth or develops within the first few years of life and is often associated with developmental delays, impaired cognitive development, poor coordination and balance, deficits in hearing and vision, and seizures