fetal position
noun
: a position (as of a sleeping person) in which the body lies curled up on one side with the arms and legs drawn up and the head bowed forward and which is assumed in some forms of psychic regression
Examples of fetal position in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Working by firelight, these diminutive cave explorers dug shallow graves, sometimes arranging bodies in fetal positions and placing a stone tool near a child’s hand.
—
Byann Gibbons, science.org, 5 June 2023
The prosecutor said that the girlfriend told the grand jury that Cole pulled Wallace off her and threw him to the floor, and that Wallace was curled in a fetal position when Cole shot him again.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023
Images of the discovery showed the mummy in a fetal position inside the red delivery bag.
—Claudia Rebaza, CNN, 28 Feb. 2023
The Collin County Medical Examiner testified during the trial that four of the gunshot wounds showed the victim was shot while in the fetal position on the ground.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 20 June 2023
Another Marine in the video, wearing a black tank top and shorts, was seen in the fetal position on the ground as he was being kicked.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 31 May 2023
Analysis of the bones revealed that the majority of the accumulation (over 80 separate specimens) represented a single H. naledi individual whose body was, by all appearances, placed and preserved in a fetal position, raising the possibility of an intentional burial.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2023
At some point in the video the two victims were on the ground in the fetal position when a couple comes in to break up the fight.
—Jordan Darling The Orange County Register (tns), al, 28 May 2023
The scene begins on night 14 with Carson curled up in the fetal position, then making one of many, many crawls to the bushes to empty his gut.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Apr. 2023
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Byann Gibbons, science.org, 5 June 2023
The prosecutor said that the girlfriend told the grand jury that Cole pulled Wallace off her and threw him to the floor, and that Wallace was curled in a fetal position when Cole shot him again.
—Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 3 Sep. 2023
Images of the discovery showed the mummy in a fetal position inside the red delivery bag.
—Claudia Rebaza, CNN, 28 Feb. 2023
The Collin County Medical Examiner testified during the trial that four of the gunshot wounds showed the victim was shot while in the fetal position on the ground.
—Greg Wehner, Fox News, 20 June 2023
Another Marine in the video, wearing a black tank top and shorts, was seen in the fetal position on the ground as he was being kicked.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 31 May 2023
Analysis of the bones revealed that the majority of the accumulation (over 80 separate specimens) represented a single H. naledi individual whose body was, by all appearances, placed and preserved in a fetal position, raising the possibility of an intentional burial.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2023
At some point in the video the two victims were on the ground in the fetal position when a couple comes in to break up the fight.
—Jordan Darling The Orange County Register (tns), al, 28 May 2023
The scene begins on night 14 with Carson curled up in the fetal position, then making one of many, many crawls to the bushes to empty his gut.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fetal position.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1887, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near fetal position
Cite this Entry
“Fetal position.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal%20position. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Medical Definition
fetal position
noun
: a position (as of a sleeping person) in which the body lies curled up on one side with the arms and legs drawn up toward the chest and the head is bowed forward and which is assumed in some forms of psychological regression
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