fertility

noun

fer·​til·​i·​ty (ˌ)fər-ˈti-lə-tē 

1

: the quality or state of being fertile

2

: the birth rate of a population

Examples of fertility in a Sentence

She studied the effects of pollution on the fertility of the local fish population.

The doctor ordered a test of his fertility.

The area is known for its soil fertility.

the fertility of his imagination

Recent Examples on the Web

Considered by fertility doctors to be the most effective medical intervention — in which eggs are surgically removed and combined with sperm inside a lab to create embryos that are transferred to the uterus — IVF is also the most expensive. — Sarah Elizabeth Richards, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

Bochantin plans on majoring in biochemistry and wants to become a fertility doctor. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Eleven Swiss cantons have introduced birth allowances over the years, and one study found that the payments increased fertility, mainly among lower-income immigrants, but the effect quickly faded. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Then there’s the burgeoning labor force, a result of the population swelling after a decline in infant mortality and increase in fertility rates, yielding a cohort of young people, many of whom speak English. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fertility

• ability
• agility
• civility
• debility
• docility
• ductility
• facility
• fragility
• futility
• gentility
• hostility
• humility

Medical Definition

fertility

noun

fer·​til·​i·​ty (ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē 

plural fertilities

1

: the quality or state of being fertile

2

: the birth rate of a population