stillborn
Americanadjective
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dead when born.
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ineffectual from the beginning; abortive; fruitless.
a stillborn plan of escape.
adjective
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(of a fetus) dead at birth
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(of an idea, plan, etc) fruitless; abortive; unsuccessful
noun
Etymology
Origin of stillborn
Vocabulary lists containing stillborn
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Katherine James, 58, from Port Talbot, who lost her stillborn daughter more than 35 years ago, said: "It's heart-breaking for families - I want to be with my little girl".
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
Speaking through tears, Katherine said: "I will never accept it, because my daughter was stillborn, and I have always known that I'm going with her."
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
The review's timeline indicates it would probably have analysed the case of Chloe Vowels-Lovett, whose baby, Esme, was stillborn at 38 weeks' gestation in February 2022.
From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026
Two horses were dead when he arrived, including a foal that appeared stillborn or miscarried.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026
“Isabelle will recover quickly from the trauma of having a stillborn baby,” she heard Mr. Derby say.
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
