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

The broad strokes have been well-known — the ticking of a woman’s biological clock increases risk of miscarriage and infertility, often caused by eggs with the wrong number of chromosomes, the structures that carry DNA. —Carolyn Y. Johnson, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2026

Only when people noticed high levels of miscarriages and cancer clusters among the residents – and saw oozing waste – did opinion change. —James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026

Oscar is a rainbow baby, as the couple experienced a miscarriage in 2016, which Tana has been candid about through the years. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025

This toxicity affected their reproductive health, resulting in miscarriages and high infant mortality rates, Phys continues. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 28 Dec. 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