infertile

adjective

in·​fer·​tile (ˈ)in-ˈfər-tᵊl 

: not fertile or productive

infertile eggs

infertile fields

especially : incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy

infertile couples

infertility

ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈti-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• barren
• fruitless
• impotent
• sterile
• unfruitful

Examples of infertile in a Sentence

an infertile cow is of limited use to a farmer

only parched, infertile fields remained after months of drought

Recent Examples on the Web

The high cost means that many people who are infertile cannot afford the services. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

Queen wasps can live up to a year, while worker wasps, infertile females that build and defend the nest, live two to three weeks. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 20 June 2025

Historical and literary sources document infertile men knowingly encouraging their wives to take lovers to ensure offspring, for example. —Byandrew Curry, science.org, 6 Mar. 2025

After these infernos, invasive grasses often took over in hardened, infertile soils. —Pamela McElwee, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for infertile

• fertile
• hurtle
• kirtle
• myrtle
• turtle

Kids Definition

infertile

adjective

in·​fer·​tile (ˈ)in-ˈfərt-ᵊl 

: not fertile or productive : barren

infertility

ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē 

noun

Medical Definition

infertile

adjective

in·​fer·​tile (ˈ)in-ˈfərt-ᵊl 

: 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 sense 1

infertility

ˌin-(ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē 

noun

plural infertilities