fetal

adjective

fe·​tal ˈfē-tᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

Examples of fetal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web About one in 4,000 to one in 6,000 babies are born with giant omphalocele, says the baby’s surgeon, Dr. James Fisher, pediatric and fetal surgeon at Midwest Fetal Care Center and Children’s Minnesota. Wendy Grossman Kantor, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Riepe abstained from voting on that bill after his amendment to extend the ban to 12 weeks and add an exception for fatal fetal anomalies was rejected. Margery A. Beck The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 15 Feb. 2024 On the third day, Nuzzo, the nurse-midwife, induces the delivery of fetal tissue from the uterus. Maggie Shannon, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Abortions are currently legal in Ohio until fetal viability, around 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2024 What does this ruling mean for patients in Alabama and other states with fetal personhood laws? Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Yes, that means baby A tried to split and become identical twins, but a yolk and fetal pole never developed. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024 As their names suggest, the fetus or fetal posture has the sleeper tucked in, both legs bent and supporting each other. Brianna Kamienski, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 The Alabama ruling could influence decisions in other state courts and legislatures, particularly in the 11 states that already have fetal personhood language in their laws, Ziegler said. Peter Smith, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fetal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetal was in 1736

Dictionary Entries Near fetal

Cite this Entry

“Fetal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fetal

adjective
fe·​tal ˈfēt-ᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

Medical Definition

fetal

adjective
fe·​tal
variants or chiefly British foetal
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

More from Merriam-Webster on fetal

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