fetal

adjective

fe·​tal ˈfē-tᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

Examples of fetal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They were referred to specialists from the fetal center at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, for monitoring. Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 28 Dec. 2025 By that afternoon, I was scheduled for surgery to remove the fetal tissue the next day. Miriam Finder Annenberg, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025 Buskmiller and the team would need to do a fetal blood transfusion. Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 23 Dec. 2025 Berghella -- the Jefferson Health maternal-fetal care director -- highlighted some of the challenges faced by premature babies. Rachel Scott, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fetal

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetal was in 1736

Cite this Entry

“Fetal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal. Accessed 3 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

fetal

adjective
fe·​tal ˈfēt-ᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

Medical Definition

fetal

adjective
fe·​tal
variants or chiefly British foetal
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

More from Merriam-Webster on fetal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!