English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj Uncommon

unborn

Unborn (adj) means not yet born; still developing in the womb. Example: “The charity raises money for the health of unborn babies.”

adj
1
Not yet born; still developing in the womb.
"The charity raises money for the health of unborn babies."
"She could feel her unborn child kicking."
2
Belonging to a future generation; yet to come.
"The debt will be paid off by generations still unborn."

How to use unborn

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot born yet — used for babies before birth, or for people in the far future.

Common pairings
unborn child unborn baby generations unborn

Word forms

unborns plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “unborn” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The charity raises money for the health of _____ babies.

Etymology

From Old English unboren, simply un- + born — it has meant "not yet born" for well over a thousand years.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “unborn” mean?

The word “unborn” means not yet born; still developing in the womb. In plain terms, not born yet — used for babies before birth, or for people in the far future.

How do you use “unborn” in a sentence?

Here is “unborn” used in a sentence: “The charity raises money for the health of unborn babies.”

What part of speech is “unborn”?

“Unborn” is an adjective.

Where does the word “unborn” come from?

The word “unborn” comes from Old English. From Old English unboren, simply un- + born — it has meant "not yet born" for well over a thousand years.

Is “unborn” a common word?

“Unborn” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “unborn” have?

“Unborn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not yet born; still developing in the womb.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial