fetalization
noun
fe·tal·iza·tion
variants: less commonly
foetalization
Definition of fetalization
-s
: a retention in the postnatal life of higher forms of conditions occurring during development of related lower forms the human skull shows fetalization in comparison to the gorilla's since it resembles the simple infant gorilla skull rather than the massive specialized adult skull
Read the Latest from M-W
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up fetalization? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!