Word
miscarriage
Phoneticsmis·car·riage, stress on the second syllable
US/mɪˈskɛɹədʒ/
UK/mɪskˈæɹɪdʒ/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the natural loss of a pregnancy before the baby is developed enough to survive outside the mother. It is a medical event that happens early in a pregnancy.
n. the spontaneous expulsion of a human foetus from the womb before it is viable. Often used in the phrase 'miscarriage of justice' to describe a failure of the court system.
Examples
“She was very sad after her miscarriage.”
“The doctor explained that a miscarriage often happens because the pregnancy is not developing normally.”
Examples
simple
“She was very sad after her miscarriage.”
contextual
“The doctor explained that a miscarriage often happens because the pregnancy is not developing normally.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “miscarriage” in context.
Usage
Countable when referring to a specific event; uncountable when discussing the medical phenomenon in general.
Pitfall
she had a miscarriage of her baby
she had a miscarriage
The word 'miscarriage' already implies the loss of a pregnancy; adding 'of her baby' is redundant.
Real-World Examples
“After marriage and the heartbreak of repeated miscarriages, Trawally returned to the Kanyeleng tradition she had grown up watching.” “Following her own miscarriage, Flynn said she had "very vivid memories" of attending appointments at the Regional Fertility Clinic.” Etymology
From mis- + carriage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/miscarriage