crib death

noun

variants US crib death or British cot death
: death of a baby while sleeping that occurs for no known reason : sudden infant death syndrome
… in the conditions of early modern Europe, crib death was all too real.— Simon Schama

Examples of crib death 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.
Linda was their only surviving child, born in 1940, after the Oppens had endured a series of stillbirths and a crib death. — A.o. Scott, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 Grief ripped the family apart in 1976 when Marlon’s baby brother Tara died of crib death at 10 weeks old. — Marissa Charles, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crib death was in 1944

Rhymes for crib death

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“Crib death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crib%20death. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Medical Definition

crib death

noun
: sudden infant death syndrome

More from Merriam-Webster on crib death

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crib death

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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