apgar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowMedical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “apgar” mean?
A standardized assessment of a newborn infant's health immediately after birth, scored on five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) to quickly identify babies needing emergency medical care.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A standardized assessment of a newborn infant's health immediately after birth, scored on five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) to quickly identify babies needing emergency medical care.
By extension, used as a noun to refer to the test itself or the score (from 0 to 10) assigned to the baby, and as a verb meaning to assess a newborn using this system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is standardized in global medical English.
Connotations
Technical, clinical, associated with the critical first moments after birth.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, encountered only in relevant contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “apgar” in a Sentence
The baby was Apgar-scored (as) 9/10.The midwife will Apgar the newborn.They recorded an Apgar of 8.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apgar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The paediatrician will Apgar the infant at one and five minutes.
- Having Apgarred the baby, the team noted significant improvement.
American English
- The nurse is going to Apgar the newborn now.
- They Apgarred the twins immediately after delivery.
adjective
British English
- The Apgar assessment is a vital routine.
- We need the Apgar chart for documentation.
American English
- The Apgar scoring system is used worldwide.
- The doctor reviewed the Apgar findings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in medical, nursing, and midwifery research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Used by healthcare professionals explaining a newborn's condition to parents. May be heard by parents in delivery rooms.
Technical
Core terminology in obstetrics, paediatrics, and neonatology for immediate postnatal evaluation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “apgar”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apgar”
- Using it as a general adjective (e.g., 'an apgar situation').
- Pronouncing it as /ˈæp.dʒɑːr/ (hard 'g' is correct).
- Writing it in lower case ('apgar')—it is a proper noun from the inventor's surname.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialized medical term used almost exclusively in contexts related to childbirth and newborn care.
It was developed in 1952 by Dr. Virginia Apgar, an American anaesthesiologist, to standardise the assessment of newborns.
A score of 7 to 10 at five minutes is generally considered normal. A score below 7 indicates the baby may need medical assistance.
Yes, in medical jargon, it is common to hear 'to Apgar a baby' meaning to perform the Apgar assessment.
A standardized assessment of a newborn infant's health immediately after birth, scored on five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) to quickly identify babies needing emergency medical care.
Apgar is usually medical/technical in register.
Apgar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæp.ɡɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæp.ɡɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
APGAR: A Perfect Guide for Assessing a newborn's Readiness. (Or remember the criteria: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration).
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS A SCORE / A NUMBER.
Practice
Quiz
What does the 'G' in the Apgar acronym stand for?