cleft lip

American  

noun

1. a congenitally deformed lip, usually the upper one, in which there is a vertical fissure that extends into one or both nostrils.

2. the deformity itself.

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cleft lip British  

noun

1. a congenital split in the upper lip, often associated with a cleft palate

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cleft lip Scientific  

/ klĕft /

1. A congenital deformity characterized by a vertical cleft or pair of clefts in the upper lip, with or without involvement of the palate.

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cleft lip Cultural  

1. A congenital defect in which the upper lip is not properly fused together, so that a narrow crack or fissure splits the lip. It can be repaired through plastic surgery.

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Sensitive Note

See harelip.

Example Sentences

Three-month-old Sana, the youngest baby on the ward, has malnutrition, acute diarrhoea and a cleft lip.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2025

Worldwide, over one-third of all congenital anomalies relate to the development of a child's head or facial bones -- their craniofacial features -- a common example being having a cleft lip and/or palate.

From Science Daily • Sep. 28, 2023

With my cleft lip scar and uneven nose, everyone knew I wasn't pretty.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2022

PRP, which has its roots in dentistry, has also been used in dental procedures such as onlay and inlay grafting, sinus lifting procedures, and cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries.

From Washington Post • Dec. 10, 2021

“He’s from Bangladesh. He has a cleft lip and palate. His parents sent him here to have surgery. He doesn’t speak any English.”

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio