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in utero
adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
a disease acquired in utero
an in utero diagnosis
Examples of in utero in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The German Darwinist Ernst Haeckel had speculated that while in utero human embryos pass through every stage of evolutionary history, developing first what look like gill slits and tails, which disappear in time.
—Maya Jasanoff, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
Shamrock was stained by the bile pigment, which can sometimes mix with a pup's amniotic fluid, while in utero.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 1 May 2024
The condition has a 100% mortality rate and there is a 33% chance that the baby will die in utero.
—Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024
Since the 1990s, the research has been clear: Being exposed to chronic stress, both in utero and early childhood, puts kids at risk for a number of medical conditions, from cardiometabolic disease or depression and substance abuse, later in life.
—Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu Reprints, STAT, 18 Mar. 2024
Exposure to lead in utero, infancy and early childhood can lead to harmful neurological effects like learning and behavior disabilities and lowered IQ, according to the regulator.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024
However, the hospital denied the allegations, stating that the unfortunate infant death occurred in utero before delivery.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 19 Mar. 2024
Other states recognize unborn children as people, but those have been limited to fetuses in utero, or inside a woman’s body.
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2024
Images of embryos of different ages reveal how the sharks develop in utero.
—Gareth J. Fraser, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in utero.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Latin
First Known Use
1713, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near in utero
Cite this Entry
“In utero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20utero. Accessed 21 May. 2024.
Medical Definition
in utero
adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
a disease acquired in utero
an in utero diagnosis
Legal Definition
in utero
adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
an injury suffered in utero
that her condition could possibly be linked to in utero exposure—Burgess v. Eli Lilly & Co., 995 F.2d 646 (1993)
Etymology
Latin
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