miscarriage

noun

mis·​car·​riage ˌmis-ˈker-ij 

-ˈka-rij, 

ˈmis-ˌker-ij, 

-ˌka-rij

1

: corrupt or incompetent management

especially : a failure in the administration of justice

2

: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus before it is viable and especially between the 12th and 28th weeks of gestation

Examples of miscarriage in a Sentence

a woman who has suffered multiple miscarriages

a high risk of miscarriage

Recent Examples on the Web

Certainresearch shows chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for about 50% of first-trimester miscarriages, and the hope is that screening allows people to prioritize embryos most likely to result in successful pregnancies. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 29 Nov. 2025

Pregnant women can suffer stillbirths and miscarriages from the high fevers that are a symptom of listeria. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Nov. 2025

Their first pregnancy ended in miscarriage at six and a half weeks. —Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

Unfortunately, Vinekar says that miscarriage risk is actually a major reason why prenatal practices won't schedule patients early on. —NPR, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing miscarriage

• miscarriage of justice

Rhymes for miscarriage

• disparage
• remarriage
• intermarriage
• marriage

Kids Definition

miscarriage

noun

mis·​car·​riage mis-ˈkar-ij 

1

: bad management

especially : a failure in the administration of justice

2

: the accidental separation of an unborn child from the body of its mother before it is capable of living independently : loss of an unborn child through premature birth

Medical Definition

miscarriage

noun

mis·​car·​riage mis-ˈkar-ij 

: spontaneous expulsion of a human fetus before it is viable and especially between the 12th and 28th weeks of gestation compare abortion sense 1a