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
Some don’t buy into the core premise that fertility rates need a boost to prevent catastrophic economic consequences caused by population collapse.
—
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2025
Currently, about two-thirds of the world's population lives in areas with fertility rates below the traditional 2.1 replacement level.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
After the Great Recession, fertility rates continued to fall and have remained below replacement level.
—The Editors, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
Overall, there’s been a 77% drop in teen births since 1991—and with the current nationwide fertility rate at 1.62 children per woman, well below the population replacement rate of 2.1, the US could soon face the litany of problems that come with a declining population.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertility
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Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2025
Currently, about two-thirds of the world's population lives in areas with fertility rates below the traditional 2.1 replacement level.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
After the Great Recession, fertility rates continued to fall and have remained below replacement level.
—The Editors, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
Overall, there’s been a 77% drop in teen births since 1991—and with the current nationwide fertility rate at 1.62 children per woman, well below the population replacement rate of 2.1, the US could soon face the litany of problems that come with a declining population.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fertility
Cite this Entry
“Fertility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertility. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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