stillbirth

noun still·birth \ ˈstil-ˌbərth , -ˈbərth \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of stillbirth

: the birth of a dead fetus

See stillbirth defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of stillbirth from the Web

Infections in pregnant women can cause other flu-like symptoms, including fatigue and muscle aches, and can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, according to the CDC.

— gregory b. hladky, courant.com, "Stop & Shop Issues Recall for Listeria-Tainted Frozen Broccoli," 23 May 2018
Some racial and ethnic groups are at higher risk for stillbirths and newborn deaths.

— mark lieber, CNN, "US stillbirths and newborn deaths down 11.5%, study says," 14 May 2018
Sometime in the mid to late eighteenth century, a woman who likely lived nearby had a stillbirth.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "How a Copper Coin Mummified a Baby’s Hand," 26 May 2018
About one percent of pregnancies in the U.S. will end in stillbirth (or a loss after 20 weeks gestation), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and every year about 24,000 babies die within their first year of life.

— kaelyn forde, Glamour, "What Women Who Have Experienced Loss Want to Hear on Mother's Day," 10 May 2018
The state House of Representatives voted unanimously Wednesday to restore tax relief for families who experience a stillbirth.

— kathleen gray, Detroit Free Press, "Tax relief for stillbirths gets unanimous vote in state House of Representatives," 11 Apr. 2018
Victoria was supposed to be Samantha Gadd’s rainbow baby — a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of an infant.

— char adams, PEOPLE.com, "Mom Honors Stillborn Daughter with Glittering Maternity Shoot for Her Rainbow Baby," 17 Apr. 2018
Instead of the tax credit, the bill passed Wednesday would provide a one-time tax exemption for a family who can provide a certificate of stillbirth from the state Department of Health and Human Services.

— kathleen gray, Detroit Free Press, "Tax relief for stillbirths gets unanimous vote in state House of Representatives," 11 Apr. 2018
Poor women who suffer late-term miscarriages or stillbirths have been convicted of aggravated or attempted homicide in trials that seem to push them all down the same hall of mirrors.

— elisabeth malkin, New York Times, "They Were Jailed for Miscarriages. Now, Campaign Aims to End Abortion Ban.," 9 Apr. 2018

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