: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
specifically
: a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo sense 1a
Examples of fetus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her Jewish faith also teaches that the health of a pregnant woman is more important than the life of an embryo or fetus, according to court documents.
—
Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Eventually, the young parents-to-be decided to proceed with the adoption but Mel and Jack had little time to celebrate because scans revealed that the fetus had a life-threatening heart defect.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Health officials said taking the painkiller increased the risk of having a kid with autism, even though the scientific consensus finds no link and untreated fevers carry their own risks to the pregnant person and the neurodevelopment of the fetus.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
Furthermore, untreated fever during pregnancy carries a host of risks to the fetus, including miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth.
—Sara Novak, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fetus
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Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Eventually, the young parents-to-be decided to proceed with the adoption but Mel and Jack had little time to celebrate because scans revealed that the fetus had a life-threatening heart defect.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Health officials said taking the painkiller increased the risk of having a kid with autism, even though the scientific consensus finds no link and untreated fevers carry their own risks to the pregnant person and the neurodevelopment of the fetus.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
Furthermore, untreated fever during pregnancy carries a host of risks to the fetus, including miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth.
—Sara Novak, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for fetus
Cite this Entry
“Fetus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetus. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fetus
noun
fe·tus
ˈfēt-əs 
plural fetuses
: a young animal while in the body of its mother or in the egg especially in the later stages of development
especially
: a developing human being in the uterus from usually two months after pregnancy occurs to birth compare embryo sense 1
Medical Definition
fetus
noun
fe·tus
variants
or chiefly British foetus
plural fetuses or chiefly British foetuses or foeti
ˈfēt-ˌī
: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
specifically
: a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo
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