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

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

The key themes now are romance, dating, children or fertility, expression or hobbies—so one of these could be taking steps forward, but also sending you mixed messages about where. — Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026

Knowing sooner that fibroids could cause this much damage to my fertility could have changed things. — As Told To Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2026

For more than a decade, reality TV star Porsha Williams has given fans a window into her life, from fertility struggles to the aftermath of her divorce. — Gayle King, CBS News, 18 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