birth defect

noun

: a physical or biochemical defect that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced

Examples of birth defect in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an effort to prevent birth defects, California now requires food makers to add folic acid to corn masa flour used to make tortillas and other foods like tamales and pupusas. —Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026

Higher rates of birth defects among Hispanic moms Nationwide, Hispanic women have the highest rates of having those defects during pregnancy. —CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026

The department said that 70 percent of neural tube birth defects can been avoided if sufficient folic acid is taken prior to conception. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Babies were born with the type of devastating birth defects that Reef saw in the ICU in Vietnam. —Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

birth defect

noun

: a serious defect (as in physical or mental function) that is present at birth and is inherited or caused by something that happens or exists in the environment

Medical Definition

birth defect

noun

: a physical or biochemical defect (as cleft palate, phenylketonuria, or Down syndrome) that is present at birth and may be inherited or environmentally induced