What does "unborn" mean?
A single unborn offspring at any stage of gestation.
Unborn
adj, noun
adj, noun ·2 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A single unborn offspring at any stage of gestation.
- Grammar: unborn is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: fetal, fetal being, fetal population, fetus.
- Useful contrasts: actual, adult person, born.
- Usage evidence: Mary had an ultrasound to find out the sex of her and Tom's unborn baby.
How to use "unborn"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "unborn" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "unborn" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "unborn" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "unborn" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "unborn" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "fetal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "unborn", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A single unborn offspring at any stage of gestation. countable
"Whereas the lack of a child brings shame upon Anna and Joachim, the converse holds true for Mary: the existence of an unborn in the womb of a woman who is supposed to be a virgin causes great scandal."
- 2 Unborn offspring collectively. uncountable
"Inheritance law allows property to be left to the unborn."
Adjective
- 1 Not yet born; yet to come; future. not-comparable
- 2 Not yet delivered; still existing in the mother's womb. not-comparable
"Ellen Page gives a star-making performance as a 16-year-old live wire who decides to go through with her pregnancy and seeks acceptably well-adjusted, wealthy, punk-rock loving parents for the unborn baby."
- 3 Existing without birth or beginning. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 not yet brought into existence wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Mary had an ultrasound to find out the sex of her and Tom's unborn baby."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "unborn"?
Common synonyms include: fetal, fetal being, fetal population, fetus, fetus in utero, fetuses.
How do you use "unborn" in a sentence?
Mary had an ultrasound to find out the sex of her and Tom's unborn baby.
Etymology
From Middle English unborn, from Old English unboren, from Proto-Germanic *unburanaz. Equivalent to un- + born.