fetus

noun

fe·​tus ˈfē-təs 

: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind

specifically : a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo sense 1a

Examples of fetus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Everything was smooth sailing until 19 weeks into Kaitlynn's pregnancy, when doctors noticed the fetus was measuring at 17 weeks. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

While the fetus is perceived as a human being, underlines the director, children born around that time haven’t fully developed vital organs, which puts them at high risk, also of future health problems. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024

Case in point: Thea Thompson, a St. Petersburg mother and nurse who was excited to have a second child, learned last month, at 18 weeks pregnant, that the fetus wasn't going to survive, WUSF reported. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

If the infection was in Crain’s uterus, the fetus would likely need to be removed with a surgery. —Lizzie Presser and Kavitha Surana, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, act of bearing young, offspring; akin to Latin fetus newly delivered, fruitful — more at feminine

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fetus

noun

fe·​tus ˈfēt-əs 

plural fetuses

: a young animal while in the body of its mother or in the egg especially in the later stages of development

especially : a developing human being in the uterus from usually two months after pregnancy occurs to birth compare embryo sense 1

Medical Definition

fetus

noun

fe·​tus

variants or chiefly British foetus

ˈfēt-əs 

plural fetuses or chiefly British foetuses or foeti ˈfēt-ˌī 

: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind

specifically : a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo