Born relates to birth: she was born in Leeds. Borne is the past participle of bear in every other sense — carried, endured, produced. Water-borne, airborne, borne out by evidence, borne with patience. Both are past participles of the same verb, split by meaning.
The core difference
One verb, two participles, divided by sense rather than grammar.
- born — brought into life: born in 1990, a born leader.
- borne — carried, endured, produced: airborne, the costs were borne by the company, borne out by the data.
The exception worth knowing
Even for birth, the active voice takes borne: "she has borne three children". Born is used in the passive — "three children were born". So the split is not simply birth-versus-everything-else; it is passive birth on one side, everything else on the other.
The compounds
All the compounds take borne: airborne, waterborne, foodborne, seaborne, mosquito-borne. If it is carried by something, it is borne.
Frequently asked questions
Is it "borne out" or "born out"?
Borne out — meaning confirmed by evidence. It uses the carrying sense.
Which is right: "she has born" or "she has borne" children?
Has borne. The active voice takes borne even for birth; born is used in the passive, as in "the child was born".
What about airborne?
Always borne. Every compound meaning "carried by" takes borne.