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.
Jasmine Beverley, whose son Sunny was stillborn in May 2022, said Bush appeared "lovely" and presented himself as "very respectful".
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Whistleblower Jack Hawkins - whose daughter Harriet was stillborn - said he understood the sentiment, but questioned whether Parliament was the right forum for further inquiries.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
But, in UK law, the death of a child that is stillborn is not subject to an inquest - something Sarah Hawkins said was "frustrating".
From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026
In April 2016, Sarah Hawkins and her husband Jack lost their daughter Harriet when she was stillborn at Nottingham City Hospital after intervention was repeatedly delayed.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
She testified that her conclusion of a live birth was a "diagnosis of exclusion"—that is, she could not find evidence that the baby was stillborn and did not have another explanation for his death.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
