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.
The remains of a stillborn baby were left on the floor of a funeral home for almost two years and his grieving parents given the wrong ashes, a court has heard.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
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
Harriet Hawkins was stillborn at Nottingham City Hospital in April 2016, after intervention was repeatedly delayed.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 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
As if Theo’s portrait has actually been painted over the stillborn first son.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
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.
