sudden infant death syndrome

noun

: death of an apparently healthy infant usually before one year of age that is of unknown cause and occurs especially during sleep

—abbreviation SIDS

called also crib death

Examples of sudden infant death syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Spectrum: Are infant wearable companies like Owlet capitalizing on parents’ fear of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is still pretty mysterious? —IEEE Spectrum, 10 Feb. 2017

For instance, one regulation requires blankets in every crib, even though the state prohibits blanket use for sleeping infants to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS. —Molly Parker, ProPublica, 21 Jan. 2025

Two cases of infanticide that were nearly labeled as sudden infant death syndrome. —Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 2 Dec. 2024

Only 11 are living: Musk's first child, Nevada Alexander Musk, died in 2002 at 10 months old from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sudden infant death syndrome

• acrosome
• aerodrome
• catacomb
• centrosome
• chromosome
• cytochrome
• hippodrome
• honeycomb
• liposome
• meerschaum
• metronome
• microtome

Medical Definition

sudden infant death syndrome

noun

: death of an apparently healthy infant usually before one year of age that is of unknown cause and occurs especially during sleep

—abbreviation SIDS

called also cot death, crib death