fetus

noun

fe·​tus ˈfē-təs How to pronounce fetus (audio)
: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
specifically : a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo sense 1a

Examples of fetus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The condition happens when amniotic fluid, the liquid that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy, enters the mother’s bloodstream right before, during, or after childbirth. Korin Miller, SELF, 8 Apr. 2025 Child Protective Services spoke to the girl’s mother, explaining that police could perform DNA testing on the fetus, or on the baby once it was born, to determine the father’s identity, officials said. Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2025 The fetus's position in the womb can affect its pelvis, leading to out-toeing in newborns. Mark Gurarie, Health, 5 Apr. 2025 In the play, Annie describes disposing of the fetus in her apartment. Anna Russell, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fetus

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, act of bearing young, offspring; akin to Latin fetus newly delivered, fruitful — more at feminine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetus was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fetus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetus. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

fetus

noun
fe·​tus ˈfēt-əs How to pronounce fetus (audio)
plural fetuses
: a young animal while in the body of its mother or in the egg especially in the later stages of development
especially : a developing human being in the uterus from usually two months after pregnancy occurs to birth compare embryo sense 1

Medical Definition

fetus

noun
fe·​tus
variants or chiefly British foetus
plural fetuses or chiefly British foetuses or foeti ˈfēt-ˌī How to pronounce fetus (audio)
: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
specifically : a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo

More from Merriam-Webster on fetus

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