shaken baby syndrome

American

noun

a usually fatal condition of abused infants brought on by violent shaking by the arms or shoulders that causes severe internal bleeding, especially around the brain and in the eyes.

shaken baby syndrome British

noun

a combination of physical injuries and conditions such as brain damage and broken bones, sometimes leading to death, caused by the vigorous shaking of an infant or young child

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shaken baby syndrome Scientific

/ shā′kən /

A condition in infants in which brain injury is caused by violent shaking that causes the child's brain to rebound against the skull. This results in bruising, swelling, and bleeding of the brain, often leading to permanent, severe brain damage or death.

Etymology

Origin of shaken baby syndrome

First recorded in 1985–1990

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The parents and grandparents who showed up learned about shaken baby syndrome, how to do accident reporting and how to ensure kids are accounted for at all times should they ever need to be called on to step in.

From Salon

Since his conviction, shaken baby syndrome has been discredited in the scientific community.

From Slate

Crucial to that conviction was expert testimony on so-called “shaken baby syndrome.”

From Salon

His conviction was based on testimony that she died from “shaken baby syndrome,” a now largely discredited scientific theory.

From Slate

Barnes is not a newcomer to legal cases where shaken baby syndrome has played a key role.

From Slate

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023