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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
Recent Examples on the Web
Linda was their only surviving child, born in 1940, after the Oppens had endured a series of stillbirths and a crib death.
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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.
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Marissa Charles, Peoplemag, 2 May 2024
In the 1960s and early ’70s, Dr. Bergman was president of the National Foundation for Sudden Infant Death, a grass-roots group that supported parents who had lost children to what once was commonly called crib death.
—
Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Most of the time, SIDS, sometimes called crib death, happens during sleep.
—
Nada Hassanein, USA TODAY, 30 May 2023
It is pronounced a crib death (what would come to be called SIDS).
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 30 May 2023
After his baby sister’s crib death, the grieving family returned to Ireland on a steamboat.
—
Laurie Gwen Shapiro, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2023
Death typically occurs during sleep and is sometimes known as crib death.
—
Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2023
The niece had lost an infant daughter to crib death and was distraught, so Ms. Dussourd took custody of the boys.
—
New York Times, 3 June 2019
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Word History
First Known Use
1944, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near crib death
Cite this Entry
“Crib death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crib%20death. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Medical Definition
crib death
nounMore from Merriam-Webster on crib death
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about crib death
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