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

In 2021, a Texas mother died after doctors in the state delayed treating her miscarriage for 40 hours. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

Pregnant people who develop listeriosis may experience flu-like symptoms, but are also at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery, as well as life-threatening infections in their newborns. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Feb. 2025

While healthy individuals may suffer from more minor symptoms, including fever, headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, the infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2025

Both women had hoped to carry their pregnancies to term, both suffered miscarriages and both died. —CNN, 21 Feb. 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