reproductive

1 of 2

adjective

re·​pro·​duc·​tive ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-tiv How to pronounce reproductive (audio)
: of, relating to, or capable of reproduction
highly reproductive wild geese
reproductively adverb

reproductive

2 of 2

noun

: an actual or potential parent
specifically : a sexually functional social insect

Examples of reproductive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Harris visited South Mountain Community Center in Phoenix on Friday to attend a rally supporting reproductive freedom. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 9 Mar. 2024 The decision has left states to draw up their own rules about reproductive health care. Anisa Arsenault, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2024 Many of you in this Chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 Biden warned that the GOP underestimated the power of women to mobilize, referencing past wins when reproductive freedom was on the ballot and predicting a win again in 2024. Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 8 Mar. 2024 Not the good Samaritans who start GoFundMe pages for struggling strangers who’ve fallen through our flimsy social safety net or those symbolic citizens representing reproductive freedom, gun control, labor rights and civil rights who were seated with first lady Jill Biden. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 The team believes this hints at potential shifts in female reproductive behavior or changes in habitat type and resources. Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Vote for candidates that will support reproductive freedom on a state level. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 This slow reproductive cycle, says ODFW, means the presence of mature sturgeon is crucial to the species’ conservation success. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 28 Feb. 2024
Noun
There's so much work to do as the House Republican Conference chair, as the reproductive for New York's 21st congressional district. Nbc Universal, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2024 And growing evidence suggests high exposure to microplastics (and the lengthy list of chemicals they’re made from) could provoke immune and stress responses, along with various reproductive, metabolic, and behavioral issues. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 15 Sep. 2023 Planning of any kind, including reproductive, is uncommon for those in the grind of homelessness. Gale Holland, Anchorage Daily News, 17 July 2022 Human reproductive cloning is widely prohibited, but therapeutic cloning — creating stem cells that are a genetic match to the patient — is more generally accepted because the cells are used to treat disease. Grace Halden, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2015 An enzyme called telomerase maintains telomeres in our reproductive and stem cells but not in the rest of the body. Susan Karlin, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2010 Salem, for instance, has adopted an ordinance to shield patients and providers of legal reproductive and gender-affirming health care from prosecution in other states. Stephanie Ebbert, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Nov. 2022 Even something that innocuous could be at risk in the march to strip away women’s reproductive and privacy rights. Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 2022 Researchers were also concerned that experimenting on reproductive-aged females would hurt their fertility. Afton Vechery, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reproductive.' 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

Adjective

1746, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reproductive was in 1746

Dictionary Entries Near reproductive

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

reproductive

adjective
re·​pro·​duc·​tive
ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-tiv
: of, relating to, or capable of reproduction

Medical Definition

reproductive

adjective
re·​pro·​duc·​tive ˌrē-prə-ˈdək-tiv How to pronounce reproductive (audio)
: of, relating to, functioning in, or capable of reproduction
reproductive organs
reproductively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on reproductive

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