infertile

in·fer·tile

adjective \(ˈ)in-ˈfər-t^əl\

: not able to reproduce : not able to produce children, young animals, etc.

: not suited for raising crops : unable to support the growth of plants

Full Definition of INFERTILE

:  not fertile or productive <infertile eggs> <infertile fields>; especially :  incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy <infertile couples>

— in·fer·til·i·ty \ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈti-lə-tē\ noun

Examples of INFERTILE

1. <an infertile cow is of limited use to a farmer>
2. <only parched, infertile fields remained after months of drought>

Origin of INFERTILE

Middle French, from Late Latin infertilis, from Latin in- + fertilis fertile

First Known Use: 1597

Related to INFERTILE

Synonyms

barren, fruitless, impotent, sterile, unfruitful

Antonyms

fat, fertile, fruitful

Related Words

altered, desexed, neutered, sterilized; castrated, emasculated, gelded; spayed; unproductive

Near Antonyms

fecund, luxuriant, productive, prolific; enriched, fertilized, rich; impregnated, pregnant; potent; bearing, producing, yielding; blooming, bursting, flourishing, swarming, teeming

Rhymes with INFERTILE

crape myrtle, cross-fertile, sand myrtle, sea turtle, self-fertile, turn turtle, wax myrtle

in·fer·tile

adjective \(ˈ)in-ˈfərt-^əl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of INFERTILE

: not fertile; especially : incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy over a considerable period of time (as a year) in spite of determined attempts by heterosexual intercourse without contraception <infertile couples> <an infertile male with a low sperm count> <an infertile female with blocked fallopian tubes>—compare sterile 1

—in·fer·til·i·ty \ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē\ noun, plural in·fer·til·i·ties