unborn

Unborn generally describes a human being that has not yet been born. The word is used as an adjective to refer to a fetus or embryo during pregnancy and can also denote potential life or future generations. In some contexts it is used more broadly to emphasize that life is in a pre-birth stage.

In medical language, prenatal development distinguishes embryo and fetus, with the term unborn serving as a non-technical label outside formal clinical texts. Clinically, professionals increasingly prefer specific terms such as embryo or fetus to describe developmental stages, while the word unborn remains common in everyday speech and policy discussions.

In law and ethics, the status of the unborn is a subject of ongoing debate and varies by jurisdiction. Some legal frameworks recognize protections or specify the unborn as a victim in certain crimes. For example, the United States has enacted laws that acknowledge an unborn child as a legal victim in violent crime under specific statutes, though rights and protections for the unborn differ around the world and are often tied to broader debates about personhood and moral status.

Culturally and rhetorically, the term unborn appears in literature, theology, and political discourse to evoke themes such as potential life, responsibility toward future generations, vulnerability, and loss. While the term conveys a clear temporal stage, its legal and ethical implications are complex and context-dependent.