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.
Senate Bill 442 is also likely to include a three-minute ultrasound video of fetal development as a state requirement, the outlet also reported. Rachel Raposas, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Senate Bill 450, which would require the Arkansas Department of Education to include a discussion about human fetal development in state education standards, passed the Arkansas House of Representatives on Tuesday. Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 16 Apr. 2025 In a pregnant person, some of this cell-free DNA is fetal DNA from the placenta. Laura Hercher, Scientific American, 24 Mar. 2025 The new analysis found that the mean fetal mortality rate for 16 Southern states in 2023 was 6.05 fetal deaths at 20 weeks’ gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, compared with a mean fetal mortality rate of 5.25 for all other states. Elizabeth Cohen, NBC News, 6 Mar. 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 4 May. 2025.

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
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