Miscarriage: meaning, definitions and examples

Casual or general conversations where the loss of a pregnancy is discussed. It is commonly used and understood by most people.

• She had a miscarriage early in her pregnancy.
• The couple is grieving due to a recent miscarriage.

Medical or clinical settings where precise terminology is required. It can sound very technical and may not be emotionally considerate.

• The patient was diagnosed with a spontaneous abortion.
• Spontaneous abortion occurs in approximately 10-20% of known pregnancies.

Sensitive or formal discussions, especially when you want to emphasize compassion and support. It is less medical in tone and more emotionally considerate.

• The support group was formed to help women dealing with pregnancy loss.
• Healthcare providers need to be aware of the emotional impact of pregnancy loss.

This word is typically used in medical contexts to describe the loss of a pregnancy.

• She suffered a miscarriage early in her pregnancy.
• The doctor explained the causes of a miscarriage.

This word is used when something does not succeed or does not happen as intended. It can be used in a wide range of scenarios such as completing tasks, business ventures, or life goals.

• The project ended in failure.
• He felt like a failure after not getting the promotion.

This word is used when someone does something wrong unintentionally. It is often less formal and can be used in everyday situations.

• Leaving the keys in the car was a big mistake.
• I made a mistake on my math test.

Use this when referring to an incorrect action, decision, or calculation. It is often used in technical, academic, or professional settings.

• There was an error in the data entry.
• His error cost the company a lot of money.