Main Entry: erythroblastosis fe·ta·lis

Pronunciation: \-fi-ˈta-ləs\

Function: noun

Etymology: New Latin, fetal erythroblastosis

Date: circa 1934

: a hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn that occurs when the system of an Rh-negative mother produces antibodies to an antigen in the blood of an Rh-positive fetus which cross the placenta and destroy fetal erythrocytes and that is characterized by an increase in circulating erythroblasts and by jaundice