microcephaly

noun

mi·​cro·​ceph·​a·​ly ˌmī-krō-ˈse-fə-lē 

: a condition of abnormal smallness of the circumference of the head that is present at birth or develops within the first few years of life and is often associated with developmental delays, impaired cognitive development, poor coordination and balance, deficits in hearing and vision, and seizures

Examples of microcephaly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The other infant had Amish microcephaly, a rare and severe genetic disorder that causes a small head and underdeveloped brain and leaves children with little chance of surviving beyond a couple of months, Moss said. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2026

The girl was born with a condition called Amish lethal microcephaly, which causes an unusually small head and underdeveloped brain. — Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

She had been born with a condition called Amish lethal microcephaly that causes an unusually small head and underdeveloped brain. — CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026

Panettiere wrote that she was told Kaya had microcephaly and could potentially be cognitively impaired. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin microcephalia, from microcephalus microcephalic, from micr- + Greek kephalē head — more at cephalic

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microcephaly

• anencephaly

Medical Definition

microcephaly

noun

mi·​cro·​ceph·​a·​ly -ˈsef-ə-lē 

plural microcephalies

: a condition of abnormal smallness of the circumference of the head that is present at birth or develops within the first few years of life and is often associated with developmental delays, impaired cognitive development, poor coordination and balance, deficits in hearing and vision, and seizures