birth defect

noun

: a physical or biochemical defect that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced

Examples of birth defect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Paternal use of metformin alone, known as monotherapy, did not appear to increase the risk for birth defects. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 17 June 2024

Charlie had a twin brother who had an unspecified birth defect. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 22 May 2024

Doctors have found that the chemical attacks contributed to higher rates of miscarriages, birth defects, cancer, and severe respiratory ailments. —Sohail H. Hashmi, Foreign Affairs, 9 Sep. 2013

These aggressive daytime biters spread serious diseases outside L.A. like Zika virus, which can cause birth defects among pregnant patients, Chikungunya, which can cause serious long-term joint pain and dengue fever, which can cause high fever and body aches, and occasionally, death. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

birth defect

noun

: a serious defect (as in physical or mental function) that is present at birth and is inherited or caused by something that happens or exists in the environment

Medical Definition

birth defect

noun

: a physical or biochemical defect (as cleft palate, phenylketonuria, or Down syndrome) that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced