deformity

noun de·for·mi·ty \ di-ˈfȯr-mə-tē , dē- \

Updated on: 28 Mar 2018

Definition of deformity

plural deformities

1 : the state of being deformed

2 : imperfection, blemish: such as

a : a physical blemish or distortion : disfigurement

b : a moral or aesthetic flaw or defect

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Examples of deformity in a Sentence

a disease causing deformity of the spine
a primitive culture that cast aside infants born with deformities, allowing them to die of exposure to the elements

Recent Examples of deformity from the Web

Doctors soon identified it as human and possibly the remains of a miscarried fetus, but some of the deformities defied analysis — further feeding suspicions of some kind of cover-up.

— NBC News, "Weird little Atacama skeleton was just a diseased fetus," 22 Mar. 2018
Chest binding can irritate the skin, damage blood vessels, and cause back pain, while silicone injections can cause pain and other complications down the line, like deformity of the breast, changes in the skin, and infections.

— SELF, "6 Things You Should Know Before Having Top Surgery," 22 Mar. 2018
The specimen, discovered in the Chilean desert in 2003, had puzzled scientists because of its skeletal deformities and bone development that seemed much more advanced than its size suggested.

— matt warren, Science | AAAS, "This strange ‘alien’ skeleton is actually a human fetus with genetic bone defects," 22 Mar. 2018
Ignoring compression fractures in your spine can lead to a spinal deformity called kyphosis, where the upper back curves forward, affecting spine flexibility, breathing, nerve roots and a patient’s overall health.

— tj gibson, azcentral, "Outpatient back surgery? It's possible.," 14 Mar. 2018
Sailors will volunteer at a protection center for victims of Agent Orange, a defoliant used by U.S. forces during the war that caused deformities and birth defects in children.

— jake maxwell watts, WSJ, "U.S. Carrier Marks New Vietnam Ties With Port Call at Former War Site," 5 Mar. 2018
Even small facial deformities can produce very negative psychological consequences in childhood that can lead to a lifetime of low self-esteem and negative body image.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "11-Year-Old Va. Girl Gets Cosmetic Surgery After Being Bullied for Her 'Elf Ears'," 27 Feb. 2018
Somehow, too, the new crayfish didn’t suffer any deformities as a result of all that extra DNA.

— carl zimmer, New York Times, "This Mutant Crayfish Clones Itself, and It’s Taking Over Europe," 5 Feb. 2018
The film, which tells the story of a boy with a facial deformity, failed to draw fans despite the presence of Julia Roberts, who is popular in China.

— gaochao zhang, latimes.com, "Bollywood movie 'Secret Superstar' beats out 'Maze Runner' sequel in China," 31 Jan. 2018

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