Word
stillborn
Phoneticsstill·born, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɪɫˈbɔɹn/
UK/stˈɪlbɔːn/
Definition
adj. describing a baby that dies before or during birth. It can also describe a plan or idea that fails to work or develop.
adj. referring to a fetus that dies in the uterus before birth or during delivery. In a figurative sense, it describes a proposal or project that fails to achieve its intended purpose or progress.
Examples
“The doctors worked hard to save the stillborn baby.”
“The committee decided to abandon the stillborn proposal after it failed to gain any support from the local residents.”
“While the initial concept was promising, the stillborn initiative was eventually scrapped due to a lack of funding and internal disagreements among the project leads.”
Examples
simple
“The doctors worked hard to save the stillborn baby.”
contextual
“The committee decided to abandon the stillborn proposal after it failed to gain any support from the local residents.”
complex
“While the initial concept was promising, the stillborn initiative was eventually scrapped due to a lack of funding and internal disagreements among the project leads.”
Real-World Examples
“The widow of The Wanted singer Tom Parker has given birth after last year announcing the "devastating" loss of a stillborn baby.” “At 19, unmarried and abandoned by her boyfriend, Phillips gave birth to a stillborn child.” Etymology
From English still + born. First attested in 1597.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/stillborn