fetalization

noun

fe·​tal·​iza·​tion
variants or less commonly foetalization
ˌ⸗⸗ə̇ˈzāshən,
-ˌīˈz-
plural -s
: a retention in the postnatal life of higher forms of conditions occurring during development of related lower forms
the human skull shows fetalization in comparison to the gorilla's since it resembles the simple infant gorilla skull rather than the massive specialized adult skull

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near fetalization

Cite this Entry

“Fetalization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetalization. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!