noun
Uncommon
miscarriage
MIHSKA-rihj
Miscarriage (noun) means the loss of a pregnancy before the baby can survive outside the womb. Example: “She was devastated after suffering a miscarriage in her first trimester.”
noun
1
The loss of a pregnancy before the baby can survive outside the womb.
"She was devastated after suffering a miscarriage in her first trimester."
2
A failure of something, especially a plan or process, to work as intended — most often used in the fixed phrase "miscarriage of justice."
"New DNA evidence proved it had been a shocking miscarriage of justice."
How to use miscarriage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLosing a pregnancy early, or (in the fixed phrase) a legal process going badly wrong.
When to use it
Talk about pregnancy loss with sensitivity — it is a difficult personal topic for many people.
Common pairings
suffer a miscarriage
miscarriage of justice
risk of miscarriage
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Word forms
- Plural
- miscarriages
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was devastated after suffering a _____ in her first trimester.
Etymology
From mis- + carriage — literally a "wrong carrying," first applied to failed plans and later specifically to lost pregnancies.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for miscarriage
See all rhymes for miscarriage →Frequently asked questions
What does “miscarriage” mean?
The word “miscarriage” means the loss of a pregnancy before the baby can survive outside the womb. In plain terms, losing a pregnancy early, or (in the fixed phrase) a legal process going badly wrong.
How do you pronounce “miscarriage”?
“Miscarriage” is pronounced MIHSKA-rihj (/ˈmɪs.kæɹ.əd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “miscarriage” in a sentence?
Here is “miscarriage” used in a sentence: “She was devastated after suffering a miscarriage in her first trimester.”
What part of speech is “miscarriage”?
“Miscarriage” is a noun.
Is “miscarriage” a common word?
“Miscarriage” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “miscarriage” have?
“Miscarriage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the loss of a pregnancy before the baby can survive outside the womb.
