in utero

adverb or adjective

in-ˈyü-tə-ˌrō 

: in the uterus : before birth

a disease acquired in utero

an in utero diagnosis

Examples of in utero in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Separately, the experts identified numerous preventable losses of babies who died during birth or in utero very close to their due dates, cases that coroners labeled as stillbirths. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026

The baby was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in utero and would need surgery shortly after birth, according to Paxton. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

The analysis revealed that less exposure to sugar in utero and early childhood was linked to delaying the onset of dementia by about two and a half years. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 July 2026

While Psalm was in utero, doctors realized there was fluid in his abdomen, but weren’t able to determine what was wrong until after his birth. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in utero

• caballero
• mescalero
• aero
• faro
• garo
• marrow
• narrow
• pharaoh
• sparrow
• taro
• bolero
• bracero

Medical Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective

in-ˈyüt-ə-ˌrō 

: in the uterus : before birth

a disease acquired in utero

an in utero diagnosis

Legal Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective

in-ˈyü-tə-rō 

: in the uterus : before birth

an injury suffered in utero

that her condition could possibly be linked to in utero exposure

—Burgess v. Eli Lilly & Co., 995 F.2d 646 (1993)

Etymology

Latin