superfetation

noun

su·​per·​fe·​ta·​tion ˌsü-pər-fē-ˈtā-shən 

: a progressive accumulation or accretion reaching an excessive degree

Examples of superfetation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If superfetation is suspected, a woman's pediatrician can check the maturity of the baby once it's born. —Asha C. Gilbert, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2021

Her pregnancy was diagnosed as superfetation, a rare condition in which a woman who is already pregnant conceives another baby. —Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2021

But fetuses that appear to have different gestational ages aren't necessarily proof of superfetation. —Health.com, 2 Nov. 2017

The rare medical phenomenon is known as superfetation, in which a woman continues to ovulate after becoming pregnant. —Char Adams, PEOPLE.com, 1 Nov. 2017

The difference in their size was obvious in the first trimester of pregnancy and continued, leading the doctor to offer superfetation as a diagnosis. —C. Claiborne Ray, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin superfetation-, superfetatio, from Latin superfetare to conceive while already pregnant, from super- + fetare to bear young, from fetus newly delivered — more at fetus

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

superfetation

noun

su·​per·​fe·​ta·​tion

variants or chiefly British superfoetation

ˌsü-pər-fē-ˈtā-shən 

: successive fertilization of two or more ova of different ovulations resulting in the presence of embryos of unlike ages in the same uterus