adj · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈstɪlbɔː(ɹ)n/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S T IH1 L B AO1 R N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Dead at birth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
1978, Holy Bible (New International Version), Job 3:16, Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: deadborn
Antonyms: quickborn
2
adj
Meaning 2
Ignored, without influence, or unsuccessful from the outset; abortive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, figuratively, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: unfruitful
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A baby that is born dead.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
(of newborn infant) showing no signs of life at birth; not liveborn
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a stillborn baby
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
failing to accomplish an intended result
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an abortive revolt
a stillborn plot to assassinate the President
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: abortive, unsuccessful
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From English still + born. First attested in 1597.
Across languages
Translations
53 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
إِمْلَاص
(ʔimlāṣ)
— dead at birth
Azerbaijani:
ölü doğulmuş
— dead at birth
Bulgarian:
мъртвороден
(mǎrtvoroden)
— dead at birth
Catalan:
nascut mort
— dead at birth
Chinese Mandarin:
死胎的
(sǐtāi de)
— dead at birth
Chinese Mandarin:
死產的 /死产的
(sǐchǎn de)
— dead at birth
Czech:
mrtvorozený
— dead at birth
Dutch:
doodgeboren
— dead at birth
Esperanto:
mortnaskita
— dead at birth
Finnish:
kuolleena syntynyt
— dead at birth
French:
mort-né
— dead at birth
German:
totgeboren
— dead at birth
Greek:
θνησιγενής
(thnisigenís)
— dead at birth
Greek:
νεκρογέννητος
(nekrogénnitos)
— dead at birth
Hungarian:
halva született
— dead at birth
Icelandic:
andvanafæddur
— dead at birth
Italian:
nato morto
— dead at birth
Italian:
nata morta
— dead at birth
Japanese:
死産の
(shizan no)
— dead at birth
Macedonian:
мртвородено
(mrtvorodeno)
— dead at birth
Norman:
mort-né
— dead at birth
Norwegian Bokmål:
dødfødt
— dead at birth
Norwegian Nynorsk:
dødfødd
— dead at birth
Old English:
dēadboren
— dead at birth
Plautdietsch:
dootjebuaren
— dead at birth
Portuguese:
natimorto
— dead at birth
Portuguese:
nado-morto
— dead at birth
Russian:
мертворождённый
(mertvoroždjónnyj)
— dead at birth
Scots:
kebbit
— dead at birth
Slovene:
mrtvorojen
— dead at birth
Spanish:
nacido muerto
— dead at birth
Spanish:
mortinato
— dead at birth
Spanish:
natimorto
— dead at birth
Swedish:
dödfödd
— dead at birth
Tagalog:
lungal
— dead at birth
Ukrainian:
мертвонаро́джений
(mertvonaródženyj)
— dead at birth
Yiddish:
טויט געבוירן
(toyt geboyrn)
— dead at birth
Dutch:
doodgeboren
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Finnish:
epäonnistunut
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Greek:
θνησιγενής
(thnisigenís)
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Hungarian:
halva született
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Norwegian:
dødfødt
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Russian:
мертворождённый
(mertvoroždjónnyj)
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Russian:
беспло́дный
(besplódnyj)
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Slovene:
mrtvorojen
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Swedish:
dödfödd
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive
Ukrainian:
мертвонаро́джений
(mertvonaródženyj)
— ignored, without influence, unsuccessful, abortive