birthweight: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Medical / Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “birthweight” mean?
The weight of a baby at the time of its birth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The weight of a baby at the time of its birth.
A measurement used in medical, public health, and demographic contexts as a key indicator of neonatal health and maternal well-being during pregnancy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling: In British English, it can be written as 'birth weight' (two words) or 'birthweight' (one word). In American English, it is predominantly written as a single, closed compound: 'birthweight'.
Connotations
Identical. Neutral and clinical.
Frequency
Higher frequency in academic and medical contexts in both varieties. General public usage is similar.
Grammar
How to Use “birthweight” in a Sentence
N of N (the birthweight of the infant)Adj N (low birthweight)V N (to assess birthweight)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “birthweight” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The low-birthweight infant required special care.
- This is a birthweight-related issue.
American English
- The low-birthweight infant needed special care.
- It's a birthweight-specific chart.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
The study found a correlation between maternal nutrition and infant birthweight.
Everyday
The midwife told us his birthweight was 3.5 kilograms.
Technical
The cohort was stratified by gestational age and birthweight for analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “birthweight”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “birthweight”
- Using 'birth weight' as an adjective without a hyphen (e.g., 'a birth weight baby' is incorrect; 'a low-birthweight baby' or 'a baby with low birthweight' is correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is commonly written as one word, especially in American English. British English may also accept the open compound 'birth weight'.
Medically, a birthweight of less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) is classified as low birthweight.
Yes, but typically only in hyphenated compounds (e.g., low-birthweight infant, birthweight-specific). It is not commonly used as a standalone adjective.
Primarily, yes. While it can be used for animals in veterinary science, in general usage it refers to human neonates.
The weight of a baby at the time of its birth.
Birthweight is usually medical / technical / academic in register.
Birthweight: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːθweɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɝθˌweɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the moment of BIRTH when the baby is WEIGHED on a scale. BIRTH + WEIGHT = birthweight.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEIGHT IS A HEALTH INDICATOR (e.g., a low birthweight signals potential problems).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'birthweight' MOST commonly used?