unborn
adj.adj. not yet born. You use this to describe a baby that is still inside its mother's body.
adj. existing but not yet brought into the world; specifically referring to a fetus or embryo.
The parents are preparing a room for their unborn child.
Doctors use ultrasound technology to monitor the health and development of the unborn baby throughout the pregnancy.
The legislation aims to balance the rights of the mother with protections for the unborn, a topic that remains central to legal and ethical debates worldwide.
From Middle English unborn, from Old English unboren, from Proto-Germanic *unburanaz. Equivalent to un- + born.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used attributively before a noun like 'child', 'baby', or 'generations'.
Last updated May 6, 2026