in utero

adverb or adjective

in-ˈyü-tə-ˌrō 

: in the uterus : before birth

a disease acquired in utero

an in utero diagnosis

Examples of in utero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ancient Mesopotamians did not have obstetric medicine, reliable methods for assessing the health of a fetus in utero, gynecological surgery, or neonatal care. — Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

That means that a transposon is partly responsible for the months-long process of development in utero that’s typical for our lineage, humans included. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

Ninety-two of the infants were first exposed to the pain medicine in utero before 17 weeks of pregnancy, 67 were first exposed after 17 weeks, and 143 were born to mothers who had not used the drug. — Nancy Lapid, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Babies born after mercury exposure in utero often had severe neurological damage and developmental disabilities. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in utero

• caballero
• mescalero
• aero
• faro
• garo
• marrow
• narrow
• pharaoh
• sparrow
• taro
• bolero
• bracero

Medical Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective

in-ˈyüt-ə-ˌrō 

: in the uterus : before birth

a disease acquired in utero

an in utero diagnosis

Legal Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective

in-ˈyü-tə-rō 

: in the uterus : before birth

an injury suffered in utero

that her condition could possibly be linked to in utero exposure

—Burgess v. Eli Lilly & Co., 995 F.2d 646 (1993)

Etymology

Latin