fetal alcohol syndrome

noun

: a highly variable group of birth defects including intellectual disability, deficient growth, and malformations of the skull and face that tend to occur in the offspring of women who consume large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The deficits, Connor emphasized, were consistent with someone affected by fetal alcohol syndrome. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Her counsel wrote that McLaughlin has been diagnosed with borderline intellectual disability, brain damage and fetal alcohol syndrome. Maham Javaid, Washington Post, 3 Jan. 2023 The experts said Cruz’s behaviors were consistent with fetal alcohol syndrome one of the conditions that fall under the umbrella of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Sun Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 The prosecution hopes the psychiatrist’s testimony will rebut claims made by Cruz’s attorneys that his mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy led him to suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome, leading to the shooting and his violent behavior. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2022 Scott said Cruz’s actions are more consistent with Antisocial Personality Disorder than anything to do with fetal alcohol syndrome. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 3 Oct. 2022 Kenneth Lyons Jones, a pediatrician and one of the first two doctors in the country to identify fetal alcohol syndrome as a medical condition, was brought in Tuesday to testify with even more precision about Cruz’s ailments. David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 The judge will first hold a hearing without the jury to decide if defense lawyers can use a map of Mr. Cruz’s brain as evidence of the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 The judge will first hold a hearing without the jury to decide if defense lawyers can use a map of Cruz’s brain as evidence of the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome. Patricia Mazzei, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetal alcohol syndrome was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near fetal alcohol syndrome

Cite this Entry

“Fetal alcohol syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal%20alcohol%20syndrome. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

fetal alcohol syndrome

noun
: a variable group of birth defects including deficient mental and physical growth that tend to occur in the offspring of women who drink large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy

Medical Definition

fetal alcohol syndrome

noun
: a highly variable group of birth defects including intellectual disability, deficient growth, central nervous system dysfunction, and malformations of the skull and face that tend to occur in the offspring of women who consume large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy
abbreviation FAS

More from Merriam-Webster on fetal alcohol syndrome

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


What Did You Just Call Me?

  • brown chihuahua sitting on the floor with squinting eyes looking at the camera
  • Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a flibbertigibbet.
Name That Thing

You know what it looks like… but what is it called?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY