preterm

adjective

pre·​term (ˌ)prē-ˈtərm How to pronounce preterm (audio)
ˈprē-ˌtərm
: of, relating to, being, or brought forth by premature birth
a preterm infant
preterm labor

Examples of preterm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Although McElroy was going into preterm labor, according to the lawsuit, the on-call nurse didn’t send her to the hospital. — Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026 For example, some strains of probiotics can lower the risk of diarrhea from antibiotics and severe complications for preterm infants. — Will Stone, NPR, 22 June 2026 Allyson Felix still remembers the beeping of the monitors in the NICU as her daughter was fighting for her life after her preterm birth in 2018. — Regina Mahone, Washington Post, 4 June 2026 When her son Nico was born at 32 weeks in 2020, Herrera-Moreno was already on disability leave, having entered preterm labor weeks earlier. — ABC News, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for preterm

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preterm was in 1928

Browse Nearby Words

preterlabent
preterm
preterminal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preterm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preterm. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

preterm

adjective
pre·​term -ˈtərm How to pronounce preterm (audio)
: of, relating to, being, or born by premature birth
preterm infants
a preterm delivery
preterm labor
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All