infertile

adjective

in·​fer·​tile (ˈ)in-ˈfər-tᵊl 

: not fertile or productive

infertile eggs

infertile fields

especially : incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy

infertile couples

infertility

ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈti-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• barren
• fruitless
• impotent
• sterile
• unfruitful

Examples of infertile in a Sentence

an infertile cow is of limited use to a farmer

only parched, infertile fields remained after months of drought

Recent Examples on the Web

Read Next World Fuzzy red creature was thought infertile at Canada zoo. —Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2024

Pregnancy in previously infertile women taking semaglutides including Ozempic may, some surmise, simply be a result of weight loss itself — obesity can lead to hormone imbalances that make pregnancy difficult to achieve or sustain. —Mary McNamara, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five women are infertile in the U.S.–and the problem has gotten worse. —Sunny Nagpaul, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024

Over the past 20 years, Astudillo’s father has experimented with growing trees in the infertile, saline soils. —Julia Shipley, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Late Latin infertilis, from Latin in- + fertilis fertile

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

infertile

adjective

in·​fer·​tile (ˈ)in-ˈfərt-ᵊl 

: not fertile or productive : barren

infertility

ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

infertile

adjective

in·​fer·​tile (ˈ)in-ˈfərt-ᵊl 

: not fertile

especially : incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy over a considerable period of time (as a year) in spite of determined attempts by heterosexual intercourse without contraception

infertile couples

an infertile male with a low sperm count

an infertile female with blocked fallopian tubes

compare sterile sense 1

infertility

ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē 

noun

plural infertilities