in vitro

adverb or adjective

in vi·​tro in-ˈvē-(ˌ)trō  -ˈvi- 

-ˈwē-

: outside the living body and in an artificial environment

Examples of in vitro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On February 18, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expanding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reducing its costs. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

One order aimed to cut costs for in vitro fertilization, or IVF, but fell well short of his campaign promise to fully fund the fertility treatments for all. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025

And in SARS-CoV-2, SCFAs helped block viral entry and replication in vitro and enhanced antiviral immunity. —New Atlas, 15 Jan. 2025

Australian scientists successfully created the world’s first kangaroo embryos through in vitro fertilization (IVF). —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, in glass

First Known Use

circa 1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in vitro

• dinitro
• nitro

Kids Definition

in vitro

adverb or adjective

in vi·​tro in-ˈvē-(ˌ)trō 

: outside the living body and in an artificial environment

an egg fertilized in vitro

Etymology

Latin, literally, "in glass"

Medical Definition

in vitro

adverb or adjective

in vi·​tro in-ˈvē-(ˌ)trō  -ˈvi- 

: outside the living body and in an artificial environment

growth of cells in vitro

in vitro studies