malformation

IPA/ˌmælfɔːˈmeɪʃn/
KK[mˌælfɔrmˈeʃən]IPA/ˌmælfɔːrˈmeɪʃn/

malformation — noun

  • malformationsingular
  • malformationsplural

1. an abnormal shape or structure in a living thing, such as an organ, limb, or who

1.nounB2
Definition

an abnormal shape or structure in a living thing, such as an organ, limb, or whole body, that develops when something goes wrong during the growth process before birth or in early life

Example

Doctors discovered a heart malformation in baby Lin when she was only three days old.

countable: a heart malformation — specific body part

The earthquake survivor's spine had a severe malformation that required two operations to correct.

countable with adjective: severe malformation

Common collocations
  • congenital malformation
  • heart malformation
  • brain malformation
  • spinal malformation
  • vascular malformation
  • birth malformation
  • severe malformation
  • minor malformation
Synonyms
  • deformity

    More visible and often more severe; can be caused by injury as well as development; slightly less clinical

  • abnormality

    Broader — covers any deviation from normal, not only physical shape

  • defect

    Emphasises that something is wrong or imperfect; common in 'birth defect'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

countable for a specific abnormally-shaped part; uncountable for the condition generally

Usage Note

Most commonly used in medical contexts about body parts, but can also describe structural abnormalities in plants, animals, or objects. Countable when referring to a specific instance ('a kidney malformation'); uncountable when referring to the general process or condition ('malformation of the spine').

Common Mistakes

The doctor said the baby has a malformation.' (vague — which part?)
The doctor said the baby has a heart malformation.
be specific about which body part is affected.
This is a malformation of my leg since I broke it.
This is a deformation of my leg since I broke it.
'malformation' describes something that developed abnormally, not a shape change caused by injury.

Word family

  • malformed
    adjectiveB2
  • malform
    verbC1
  • malforming
    adjectiveC2
  • formation
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Malformation, deformity, abnormality, and defect all describe something that is not as it should be, but they differ in scope and connotation. Malformation is the most clinical term — it specifically refers to body parts or structures that developed wrongly before birth or during growth, carrying no judgment about appearance. Deformity focuses more on visible shape and is often used for body parts that look conspicuously different; it can also result from injury, unlike malformation. Abnormality is the broadest of the four — any measurable deviation from normal, whether physical, behavioral, or statistical — while malformation is purely physical. Defect suggests an imperfection that prevents proper function, as in 'birth defect' or 'heart defect.' A child born with a malformed hand has a malformation; the same hand might be called a deformity if people react to its appearance; the doctor might note a bone abnormality on the X-ray; and if the hand cannot grip properly, it is a functional defect.

deformity ↗abnormality ↗defect ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • congenital malformation
  • vascular malformation
  • birth malformation
  • structural malformation

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Malformation comes from the Latin prefix male- meaning 'badly' or 'wrongly' combined with formatio, meaning 'a shaping or forming.' The word entered English in the late 1700s through medical French, replacing older terms like 'misshapenness.' The prefix mal- appears in many English medical terms (malnutrition, malfunction, malpractice), all carrying the sense of something gone wrong. The formation root is shared with 'form,' 'formal,' and 'formative.'

First known use

1800

1800, in the meaning defined above