birth defect

noun

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Definition of birth defect

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

Recent Examples of birth defect from the Web

Veterans, and some scientists who have done research on the issue, suspect there is a link between a veteran's AO exposure and the birth defects and certain medical conditions of their children.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "For Veteran John Kirchner, It's 40 Years And Counting," 11 June 2018
Plastic surgery was for the rich and famous or people who needed it to repair birth defects or injuries, or to mitigate the symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder.

— laura jean baker, chicagotribune.com, "When a 'natural' mother considers plastic surgery," 29 Apr. 2018
However, several lawsuits and studies later claimed that the drug was linked with birth defects, and it was voluntarily taken off of the market in the 1980s.

— korin miller, SELF, "What to Know About Bonjesta, the Morning Sickness Drug Kim Kardashian Is Posting About on Instagram," 28 June 2018
Image Scientists have captured the clearest and most detailed image yet of Zika, the virus that set off a global health crisis in 2015 and 2016 and left thousands of babies with serious birth defects.

— emily baumgaertner, New York Times, "High-Resolution Snapshot of Zika Virus Reveals Clues to Fighting It," 26 June 2018
Other possible effects of Zika infection during pregnancy include alternative birth defects, such as eye problems or hearing loss, or miscarriage.

— susan scutti, CNN, "Fewer babies were born in Brazil amid Zika outbreak, study says," 29 May 2018
Infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects, including microcephaly in which the baby is born with a small head.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Health officials wary of mosquitoes — and rising risk of Zika and other illnesses — after heavy rains," 24 May 2018
Even a single dose of thalidomide, the active ingredient in Thalomid, can cause irreversible, debilitating birth defects if not properly handled and dispensed.

— sydney lupkin — kaiser health news, STAT, "Drug makers blamed for blocking generics have jacked up prices and cost U.S. billions," 23 May 2018
Combine it with the fact that suicide kills more children than cancer, diabetes, birth defects, stroke, respiratory diseases, and heart disease combined, and more than 90 percent of children that die by suicide had a mental illness.

— chrisa hickey, Redbook, "What It's Like When Your Child Is Mentally Ill," 6 May 2013

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

First Known Use of birth defect

1864

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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BIRTH DEFECT Defined for Kids

birth defect

noun

Definition of birth defect for Students

: a physical defect that a person is born with and that may be inherited or caused by something in the environment

Medical Dictionary

birth defect

noun

medical Definition of birth defect

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