meconium
noun
me·co·ni·um
mi-ˈkō-nē-əm 
: a dark greenish mass that accumulates in the bowel during fetal life and is discharged shortly after birth
Examples of meconium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Although swallowing a small amount of meconium is safe, breathing it in can cause serious respiratory issues.
—
David Chiu, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Mec is short for meconium, but no one bothers to translate.
—Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
That is known as meconium aspiration syndrome – a potentially fatal condition that occurs in 5% to 10% of births but is treatable if diagnosed in time.
—Khwaga Ghani, NPR, 31 Mar. 2025
Black matter moved through the tubes coming out of the baby’s mouth; that was the meconium, I was told.
—Julie Buntin, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
A day later, a social worker told the new mother: The baby’s meconium — or first bowel movement — had tested positive for opiates.
—Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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David Chiu, People.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Mec is short for meconium, but no one bothers to translate.
—Erica Stern
june 9, Literary Hub, 9 June 2025
That is known as meconium aspiration syndrome – a potentially fatal condition that occurs in 5% to 10% of births but is treatable if diagnosed in time.
—Khwaga Ghani, NPR, 31 Mar. 2025
Black matter moved through the tubes coming out of the baby’s mouth; that was the meconium, I was told.
—Julie Buntin, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
A day later, a social worker told the new mother: The baby’s meconium — or first bowel movement — had tested positive for opiates.
—Shoshana Walter, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Meconium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meconium. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
meconium
noun
me·co·ni·um
mi-ˈkō-nē-əm
: a dark greenish mass of desquamated cells, mucus, and bile that accumulates in the bowel of a fetus and is typically discharged shortly after birth
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