birthmark

birthmark — noun

1. an area of skin, often red or brown, that a person is born with

1.nounB2
Definition

an area of skin, often red or brown, that a person is born with

Example

Lior has a small birthmark above her left eyebrow.

pattern: have a birthmark

The baby's birthmark looked darker after the evening bath.

Common collocations
  • small birthmark
  • dark birthmark
  • heart-shaped birthmark
  • birthmark on the shoulder
  • be born with a birthmark
Synonyms
  • mark

    a broad everyday word for any visible sign on the skin or another surface

  • mole

    usually means a small dark spot and is not always present from birth

  • nevus

    a medical term used by doctors and in health information

Grammar Patterns

have a birthmark

be born with a birthmark

birthmark on + body part

Usage Note

Often used with have or be born with, and usually followed by on, above, near, or another phrase naming the part of the body. In medical writing, nevus is a more technical word.

Common Mistakes

I was born with a birthmark in my arm.
I was born with a birthmark on my arm.
English usually uses on for a mark on the skin.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Birthmark is the best word when the skin mark has been there since birth. Mole often means a small dark spot, but a mole may appear later in life, so it is not always a birthmark. Mark is much broader and can describe many kinds of signs on the skin, including dirt, ink, or an injury. Scar is different again, because it comes after a cut, burn, or operation. So you can say Lior has a birthmark above her eye, but not a scar unless the skin changed after damage. If a doctor asks about a mole, the question may be about skin health, not only about a mark from birth.

birthmark ↗mole ↗markscar ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Birthmark is a native English compound made from birth and mark. English speakers built the word in a direct way to mean a mark a person has from birth, rather than borrowing a longer medical term from another language.