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Glite Dictionary
incompetent cervix

incompetent cervix

7.8
A weak cervix that opens too early in pregnancy and can cause miscarriage or early birth
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnkəmˈpɛtənt ˈsɜrvɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cérvix incompetente
  • An incompetent cervix can make carrying a pregnancy to term more challenging.

Examples

  • Five years ago this month, I had my first loss: because of my incompetent cervix, my daughter was born far too soon and lived for twenty minutes before dying in my arms.

    Blog text (4)

  • You have an incompetent cervix.

    20th Century Women (2016)

  • She learned she had an incompetent cervix after experiencing multiple miscarriages.

  • Doctors advised her to take precautions due to her incompetent cervix, which could lead to premature labor.

Surface Forms

incompetent cervix singular
incompetent cervixes plural
incompetent cervices plural

Morphology

incompetent + cervix

The term literally combines 'incompetent' (not functioning properly) with 'cervix' (the lower part of the uterus), so a learner who knows both words will likely infer that the cervix is malfunctioning. However, the precise clinical sense — weakening and premature opening during pregnancy with risks of miscarriage or preterm birth — requires medical knowledge and is not fully predictable from the general adjective, making the phrase only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Incompetent cervix is a medical name that combines incompetent, meaning 'not strong enough', and cervix, the lower part of the womb. If the cervix is 'not strong enough' it can 'open too early' and cause a miscarriage or an 'early birth'.