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.
But vaccines are filtered through a purification process during production, meaning no fetal tissue ends up in the final product. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Add Level 2 fetal ultrasounds, EEG epileptology screenings, and pediatric subspecialty consultations at the Jonesboro Outpatient Center. — Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 The sharp howls after a patient traveling from abroad presented with a full-term fetal demise? — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026 Research highlights how occupational heat exposure can double adverse birth outcomes, with heat acting as a fetal toxin, while fine particulate matter contributes to preterm births and low birth weight. — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing fetal

Rhymes for fetal

See All Rhymes for fetal

Browse Nearby Words

feta
fetal
fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
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Cite this Entry

“Fetal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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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
ˈfēt-ᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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