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
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.
Being strapped to a monitor while in labor hinders your freedom of movement, which is essential for comfort, coping with the sensations of labor and encouraging optimal fetal positioning. Carson Meyer, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025 But directly applying this insight to human pregnancies may have unintended consequences, says Kim Botting, a physiologist at University College London, because reactive oxygen species also play a role in increasing blood flow to the fetal brain when oxygen levels are low. Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025 In 2022, when Smith was around 18-19 weeks pregnant with her second baby, her ultrasound revealed that her baby had several serious fetal anomalies. Chantelle Lee, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 Doctors typically advise that pregnant women take prenatal vitamins to increase their intake of folic acid, iron and calcium, which are important for fetal growth and development. Renée Onque,lauren Shamo, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fetal

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetal was in 1736

Cite this Entry

“Fetal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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