spina bifida

noun

spi·​na bi·​fi·​da ˌspī-nə-ˈbi-fə-də 

: a congenital cleft of the spinal column with hernial protrusion of the meninges and sometimes the spinal cord

Examples of spina bifida in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The state lawmaker was born with spina bifida due to his father's exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Kendall, born with spina bifida, was rushed into surgery at Boston Children's. — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

As a result of that exposure, Turek was born with spina bifida, a birth defect, and is in a wheelchair. — New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026

He was born with spina bifida, which was likely caused by his father’s exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. — Peter Slevin, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, spine split in two

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

spina bifida

noun

spina bi·​fi·​da

-ˈbif-ə-də also -ˈbīf-

: a neural tube defect marked by congenital cleft of the spinal column usually with hernial protrusion of the meninges and sometimes the spinal cord see meningocele, myelocele, myelomeningocele