anencephaly

noun

an·​en·​ceph·​a·​ly ˌan-(ˌ)en-ˈse-fə-lē How to pronounce anencephaly (audio)
plural anencephalies
: congenital absence of all or a major part of the brain
anencephalic
ˌan-ˌen(t)-sə-ˈfa-lik How to pronounce anencephaly (audio)
adjective

Examples of anencephaly in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then a 20-week ultrasound revealed the inconceivable: Large portions of the brain and skull were missing, a rare birth defect called anencephaly. — Angie Leventis Lourgos, chicagotribune.com, 10 June 2019 From 2010 to 2016, in Central Washington, cases of anencephaly — in which babies are born missing part of the brain and skull — were detected at a rate far higher than the national average. — Jonel Aleccia, The Seattle Times, 16 Oct. 2018

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + encephal- + -y entry 2

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anencephaly was in 1831

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“Anencephaly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anencephaly. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

anencephaly

noun
an·​en·​ceph·​a·​ly ˌan-(ˌ)en-ˈsef-ə-lē How to pronounce anencephaly (audio)
plural anencephalies
: congenital absence of all or a major part of the brain

More from Merriam-Webster on anencephaly

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about anencephaly

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