‘Borne’ vs. ‘Born’: What’s the difference?

What does “borne” mean?

The verb “borne” is the past participle of the verb “bear.” “Borne” is also an adjective that is used to describe something that is transported or transmitted—for example, an airborne disease.¹ It’s a synonym for the verb “to carry”—it’s not used to indicate that someone or something gave birth. For example, when you see scientists talking about airborne viruses, it doesn’t mean that the viruses were born from the air, it means that these viruses are carried and transmitted through the air.

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Examples of “borne” used in a sentence

“Borne” is frequently used to describe how diseases are spread, but it can also refer to carrying physical objects, ideas, or concepts. To help you get a better idea of what “borne” means, here are some examples of the word used appropriately in a sentence:

• Health experts believe the virus was borne through undercooked meat.
• The disease is borne by ticks, which get the bacteria from biting other animals.
• Cities on the east coast have borne the brunt of the recession.
• He had borne the burden of guilt and grief for years before seeking help.

What does “born” mean?

“Born” is also the past participle for the verb “bear,” but in this case, it implies giving birth. “Born” can be used to describe the birth of a living being or the figurative birth of an idea or organization. “Born” can also be used as an adjective.

Examples of “born” used in a sentence

Here are some ways to appropriately use the past participle “born” in a sentence:

• I was born in the spring.
• Her romantic trip to Ireland inspired her and the idea for her new book was born.
• He thinks musical geniuses are born, not created.
• My father was born poor but worked hard to become a successful businessman.

How to remember the difference between “born” and “borne”

By now, you’ve learned the difference between “born” and “borne”—but remembering which word to use is the hardest part. An easy way to remember the difference is to think about the word “childbirth”: There is no -e in the word, just like how there is no -e in “born.” By thinking about the ‘e’, you can make sure to use “born” when talking about birth.²

Keep in mind that “borne” is a synonym for “carried.” If you’re ever not sure whether to use “borne” or “born,” replace the word in question with “carried.” For example, let’s take the statement “Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease.” If you change this sentence to “Lyme disease is a tick-carried disease” the sentence still makes sense and “borne” is the correct word choice. On the other hand, take the statement “I was born in the spring,” referring to your entrance into the world. If you change the sentence to “I was carried in the spring,” it no longer makes sense, showing that “born” is the correct word choice and not “borne.”

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