Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • virgin birth
    virgin birth
    noun
    the doctrine or dogma that, by the miraculous agency of God, the birth of Christ did not impair or prejudice the virginity of Mary.
  • Virgin Birth
    Virgin Birth
    noun
    the doctrine that Jesus Christ had no human father but was conceived solely by the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit so that Mary remained miraculously a virgin during and after his birth

virgin birth

American  

noun

  1. Theology. the doctrine or dogma that, by the miraculous agency of God, the birth of Christ did not impair or prejudice the virginity of Mary.

  2. Zoology. parthenogenesis; parturition by a female who has not copulated.


Virgin Birth 1 British  

noun

  1. the doctrine that Jesus Christ had no human father but was conceived solely by the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit so that Mary remained miraculously a virgin during and after his birth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

virgin birth 2 British  

noun

  1. another name for parthenogenesis

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of virgin birth

First recorded in 1645–55

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.

See Examples For:

But those offspring were made by tinkering with egg cells in laboratory dishes rather than by giving female animals the capacity for virgin birth, also known as parthenogenesis.

From Scientific American Aug. 1, 2023

It's the first time scientists have recorded in an American crocodile successful parthenogenesis, which is asexual reproduction and Greek for "virgin birth."

From Salon Jun. 10, 2023

The discovery of virgin birth in plants is widely credited to John Smith, a 19th century botanist who served as the inaugural curator at London’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

From Science Magazine May 17, 2023

What makes the case even more rare is that it is the first time that any bird species has had a virgin birth when males were present for breeding.

From BBC Oct. 29, 2021

It has been thought strange that if, as is claimed, the virgin birth is so essential to the right understanding of the Christian religion, that Mark, John, and Paul should say nothing about it.

From The Great Doctrines of the Bible by William Evans

However, it excludes Christians who, for example, may not affirm a belief in the Virgin Birth, or who are convinced gay marriage is compatible with the teachings of the Bible.

From Salon Jun. 10, 2018

Mr. O’Reilly and company weren’t occupied with defending belief in the Virgin Birth or worrying that the celebration of Christ’s birth had become too commercialized.

From New York Times Dec. 15, 2017

One section of the book is called "Virgin Birth - Myth or Historical Truth?"

From Reuters Nov. 20, 2012

Eight out of 10 believed in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and two thirds in the Virgin Birth.

From BBC Mar. 9, 2010

Well, next I preached bout the Virgin Birth.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com