cleft palate

American  

noun

• cleft palates
  plural

1. a congenital defect of the palate in which a longitudinal fissure exists in the roof of the mouth, often associated with a cleft lip.

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cleft palate British  

noun

1. a congenital crack or fissure in the midline of the hard palate, often associated with a harelip

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cleft palate Scientific  

1. Incomplete closure of the palate during development of an embryo, resulting in a split along part or all of the roof of the mouth.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cleft palates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cleft palate

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cleft palate

Reported problems include spina bifida, cleft palate, and a range of intellectual, communication, behavior and memory disorders.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 28, 2025

“It certainly happened to me,” said Schimberg, who has a cleft palate.

From Salon ● Sep. 21, 2024

By 12, he’d endured 30 separate surgeries to correct a cleft palate and lip, to insert a prosthetic eye and to reroute a blood vessel in his brain.

From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2023

A woman has spoken of her anger and frustration after her 13-month-old baby's cleft palate surgery was cancelled at the last minute.

From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2021

They told Mom and Dad I had a cleft palate and some other stuff going on.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio