birth defect

noun

: a physical or biochemical defect that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced

Examples of birth defect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Legislators have cautioned that procreation between cousins can increase the chance of birth defects. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025

Commonly used for water-, oil- and stain-resistance in textiles, some of the chemicals belonging to this class have been associated with negative health effects such as birth defects and cancer. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 26 Sep. 2025

Untreated fever, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth, according to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. —Lauren Dunn, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2025

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, which recommends using acetaminophen to treat fever and pain in pregnant women, says that untreated fever can cause grave harms such as miscarriage, birth defects or premature birth, especially early in a pregnancy. —Jon Hamilton, NPR, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

birth defect

noun

: a serious defect (as in physical or mental function) that is present at birth and is inherited or caused by something that happens or exists in the environment

Medical Definition

birth defect

noun

: a physical or biochemical defect (as cleft palate, phenylketonuria, or Down syndrome) that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced