Birth vs. Born — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 29, 2024
Birth refers to the act of being born, signifying the start of life, while born is used to describe the state of having been birthed.
Difference Between Birth and Born
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Birth is a noun describing the process of coming into life, typically focusing on the event itself. Born, on the other hand, is a past participle used as an adjective or part of a verb phrase to indicate having come into life through birth.
Birth often refers to the specifics of the event, including the time, place, and conditions, whereas born is used more broadly to signify the state or condition of having been birthed.
Birth is marked by its association with the beginning of biological existence in many species, while born is specifically linked to the qualities or circumstances someone inherits at birth.
In legal and documentary contexts, birth is detailed in terms of date and location, whereas born is commonly used to describe one's origin or the commencement of existence in a broader sense.
Birth is central in medical and familial narratives focusing on the delivery and arrival of a new individual, on the other hand, born often appears in cultural, astrological, or metaphorical expressions like "born leader" or "born in a storm."
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective or Past Participle
Usage in Sentences
Often used with details like date and place
Used to describe state or condition post-birth
Common Contexts
Medical, legal, familial
Cultural, metaphorical, biographical
Example Phrases
"Date of birth"
"Born and raised"
Expressive Focus
Specific event details
General state or quality from birth
Compare with Definitions
Birth
The emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother.
The birth of her first child was a monumental event in her life.
Born
Designated from birth.
She was born to be a leader.
Birth
The act or process of bearing young; parturition.
The veterinarian assisted in the birth of the puppies.
Born
Brought into existence.
A star is born every time he steps onto the stage.
Birth
A specific time when something started.
The document recorded the birth of the organization in March 1924.
Born
Having started life, come into the world.
She was born in Chicago.
Birth
The beginning or coming into existence of something.
The birth of democracy in ancient Greece was a significant historical event.
Born
Originating or deriving from.
The concept was born from a simple idea.
Birth
The circumstances or environment one is born into.
He took great pride in his humble birth.
Born
Having a natural ability or quality from the time of birth.
He was born with a talent for music.
Birth
Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the fetus at a developmental stage when it is ready to feed and breathe.
Born
(obsolete) [[bear#Etymology 2 in other senses.
Birth
The emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being
Despite a difficult birth he's fit and healthy
He was blind from birth
Born
Existing as a result of birth
She was born in Aberdeen
A newly born baby
I was born with a sense of curiosity
Birth
Give birth to (a baby or other young)
She birthed five children within ten years
Born
A past participle of bear1.
Birth
The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother.
Born
Brought into life by birth.
Birth
The act or process of bearing young; parturition
The mare's second birth.
Born
Brought into existence; created
A new nation was born with the revolution.
Birth
The circumstances or conditions relating to this event, as its time or location
An incident that took place before my birth.
A Bostonian by birth.
Born
Having from birth a particular quality or talent
A born artist.
Birth
The set of characteristics or circumstances received from one's ancestors; inheritance
Strong-willed by birth.
Acquired their wealth through birth.
Born
Destined, or seemingly destined, from birth
A person born to lead.
Birth
Origin; extraction
Of Swedish birth.
Of humble birth.
Born
Resulting or arising
Wisdom born of experience.
Birth
Noble or high status
Persons of birth.
Born
Native to a particular country, region, or place. Often used in combination
Irish-born.
Southern born and bred.
Boston-born.
Birth
A beginning or commencement.
Born
Inflection of bear; given birth to.
Birth
To deliver (a baby).
Born
(Geordie) burn {{qual}}
Birth
Chiefly Southern US To bear (a child).
Born
Having from birth (or as if from birth) a certain quality or character; innate; inherited.
Birth
(uncountable) The process of childbearing; the beginning of life.
Born
(Geordie) burn {{qual}}
Birth
(countable) A beginning or start; a point of origin.
The birth of an empire
Born
Brought forth, as an animal; brought into life; introduced by birth.
No one could be born into slavery in Mexico.
Birth
(uncountable) The circumstances of one's background, ancestry, or upbringing.
He was of noble birth, but fortune had not favored him.
Born
Having from birth a certain character; by or from birth; by nature; innate; as, a born liar.
Birth
That which is born.
Born
British nuclear physicist (born in Germany) honored for his contributions to quantum mechanics (1882-1970)
Birth
Misspelling of berth
Born
Being talented through inherited qualities;
A natural leader
A born musician
An innate talent
Birth
A familial relationship established by childbirth.
Her birth father left when she was a baby; she was raised by her mother and stepfather.
Birth
(transitive) To bear or give birth to (a child).
Birth
To produce, give rise to.
Birth
The act or fact of coming into life, or of being born; - generally applied to human beings; as, the birth of a son.
Birth
Lineage; extraction; descent; sometimes, high birth; noble extraction.
Elected without reference to birth, but solely for qualifications.
Birth
The condition to which a person is born; natural state or position; inherited disposition or tendency.
A foe by birth to Troy's unhappy name.
Birth
The act of bringing forth; as, she had two children at a birth.
Birth
That which is born; that which is produced, whether animal or vegetable.
Poets are far rarer births than kings.
Others hatch their eggs and tend the birth till it is able to shift for itself.
Birth
Origin; beginning; as, the birth of an empire.
Birth
See Berth.
Birth
The time when something begins (especially life);
They divorced after the birth of the child
His election signaled the birth of a new age
Birth
The event of being born;
They celebrated the birth of their first child
Birth
The process of giving birth
Birth
The kinship relation of an offspring to the parents
Birth
Give birth (to a newborn);
My wife had twins yesterday!
Common Curiosities
Can birth be used metaphorically?
Yes, birth can be used metaphorically to describe the creation or start of anything, like an idea.
What does birth signify in medical terms?
Birth signifies the moment when a baby is fully delivered from the mother's body.
Is the phrase "born and bred" accurate?
Yes, it's used to describe someone who was born and raised in a particular place and shaped by its culture.
What is a birth certificate?
A birth certificate is an official document recording the details of a person's birth.
How is born used in a biographical context?
In biographies, born is used to indicate the time and place of a person's birth.
What does it mean when someone is described as "born into" something?
It means they have inherited or been placed into certain conditions or a specific lifestyle at birth.
What's the difference between "birth" and "born" in legal documents?
"Birth" in legal documents refers to the detailed record of a person's birth, while "born" might be used to describe their origin.
How do astrologers use the term birth?
Astrologers use the term birth to refer to the exact moment and location of a person's birth for horoscope creation.
What does "newly born" imply?
"Newly born" refers to something that has very recently come into existence or life.
How does the concept of being "born" extend to non-living things?
Non-living things like ideas or projects are described as "born" when they are created or initiated.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
