anencephaly
noun
an·en·ceph·a·ly
ˌan-(ˌ)en-ˈse-fə-lē 
plural anencephalies
: congenital absence of all or a major part of the brain
Examples of anencephaly in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then a 20-week ultrasound revealed the inconceivable: Large portions of the brain and skull were missing, a rare birth defect called anencephaly.
—
Angie Leventis Lourgos, chicagotribune.com, 10 June 2019
From 2010 to 2016, in Central Washington, cases of anencephaly — in which babies are born missing part of the brain and skull — were detected at a rate far higher than the national average.
—Jonel Aleccia, The Seattle Times, 16 Oct. 2018
Our much-wanted baby was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition.
—Josephine Sedgwick, New York Times, 9 July 2018
The stillborn baby had a rare condition called anencephaly, in which the brain and the skull fails to develop properly.
—Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2018
Three weeks earlier, a routine scan revealed that her baby had anencephaly, a fatal defect in which part of the brain and skull isn't fully formed.
—Sheena McKenzie, CNN, 22 May 2018
These defects occur in the first month of a pregnancy and include conditions that impact the brain, skull, and spine, like spina bifida and anencephaly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
—Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, 19 Apr. 2018
Glory Faye Vinci was born March 14, 2017 with anencephaly, a condition that prevents the brain from developing normally.
—Gus Chan, cleveland.com, 15 Apr. 2018
Shane, who was diagnosed with anencephaly, a birth defect that causes part of the brain and skull to be missing, died shortly after he was born on October 9.
—Kelly Potts, Woman's Day, 11 Nov. 2014
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Angie Leventis Lourgos, chicagotribune.com, 10 June 2019
From 2010 to 2016, in Central Washington, cases of anencephaly — in which babies are born missing part of the brain and skull — were detected at a rate far higher than the national average.
—Jonel Aleccia, The Seattle Times, 16 Oct. 2018
Our much-wanted baby was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal condition.
—Josephine Sedgwick, New York Times, 9 July 2018
The stillborn baby had a rare condition called anencephaly, in which the brain and the skull fails to develop properly.
—Laura Yan, Popular Mechanics, 2 June 2018
Three weeks earlier, a routine scan revealed that her baby had anencephaly, a fatal defect in which part of the brain and skull isn't fully formed.
—Sheena McKenzie, CNN, 22 May 2018
These defects occur in the first month of a pregnancy and include conditions that impact the brain, skull, and spine, like spina bifida and anencephaly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
—Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, 19 Apr. 2018
Glory Faye Vinci was born March 14, 2017 with anencephaly, a condition that prevents the brain from developing normally.
—Gus Chan, cleveland.com, 15 Apr. 2018
Shane, who was diagnosed with anencephaly, a birth defect that causes part of the brain and skull to be missing, died shortly after he was born on October 9.
—Kelly Potts, Woman's Day, 11 Nov. 2014
Cite this Entry
“Anencephaly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anencephaly. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
anencephaly
noun
an·en·ceph·a·ly
ˌan-(ˌ)en-ˈsef-ə-lē
plural anencephalies
: congenital absence of all or a major part of the brain
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