in utero

adverb or adjective

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That in itself didn’t sound scary at first, as Winston explained that the condition could be controlled with pills or a heart pump to give the babies more time to develop in utero. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 13 Nov. 2025 Two babies, infected in utero, were born pre-term and died. Erika Edwards, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2025 High levels of exposure to lead in utero, infancy, and early childhood can lead to neurological effects such as learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, and lowered IQ. Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 Small studies had associated acetaminophen exposure in utero with a baby’s risk of developing autism. Rachel Pearson, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for in utero

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in utero was in 1713

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In utero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20utero. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

Medical Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
a disease acquired in utero
an in utero diagnosis

Legal Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
an injury suffered in utero
that her condition could possibly be linked to in utero exposureBurgess v. Eli Lilly & Co., 995 F.2d 646 (1993)
Etymology

Latin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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