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.
Sepsis Rates Spiked for Patients Whose Initial Diagnosis Didn’t Include Fetal Death For patients in Texas hospitals who lost a pregnancy, about half were not diagnosed with fetal demise when they were admitted, meaning that their fetus may still have had a heartbeat at that time. Lizzie Presser, ProPublica, 20 Feb. 2025 Hamilton underlines the impact of such experiences by citing studies that show a negative effect even on fetal development if a pregnant woman is exposed to violence. Deborah Blum, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025 Broccoli is high in vitamins C and K and folate, which is vital for fetal growth during pregnancy.24 In addition, broccoli contains nutrients and phytochemicals that can reduce inflammation, support heart health, improve bone health, and even protect against certain types of cancer.25 13. Lindsey Desoto, Health, 11 Feb. 2025 Those findings followed another study that reported a 12.7% rise in infant mortality in Texas after the implementation of Senate Bill 8, which bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected. Almut Winterstein, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 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 5 Mar. 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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