1. Soft spots on a baby's skull where the bones have not yet fused together, allowing the head to compress during birth and the brain to grow.
Usage: Usually plural; also spelled 'fontanelles' (British variant); Medical/anatomical term

Examples

• A newborn typically has two main fontanels: the anterior and posterior fontanels.
• The anterior fontanel usually closes between 12 and 18 months of age.
• Doctors check the fontanels during infant checkups to monitor brain growth and development.
• A bulging fontanel can sometimes indicate increased pressure inside the skull.
• The posterior fontanel generally closes by 2 to 3 months after birth.