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in situ

adverb or adjective
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in si·​tu | \ (ˌ)in-ˈsī-(ˌ)tü How to pronounce in situ (audio) , -ˈsi-, -(ˌ)tyü also -ˈsē-, -(ˌ)chü \

Definition of in situ

: in the natural or original position or place an in situ cancer confined to the breast duct

Examples of in situ in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In November 2019, the family moved in and has spent quarantine in situ. — Alexandra Lange, ELLE Decor, "How One Architect Kept the Cozy in a Sleek Redo on Manhattan’s Upper East Side," 5 Jan. 2021 The pleasure of this book comes from narrating the Louvre’s history as residence and museum together, and photographing the whole collection in situ. — Roberta Smith, New York Times, "Best Art Books of 2020," 26 Nov. 2020 The estate has extra motivation to keep mainstay tenants in situ. — David Segal, New York Times, "To Survive the Pandemic, Savile Row Cuts a Bespoke Strategy," 15 Nov. 2020 Within two weeks of her routine mammogram at Solis Mammography in Paris, Texas, she’d been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ and had a lumpectomy. — Allison Hatfield, Dallas News, "Innovative surgical procedure helps breast cancer survivors feel hugs again," 9 Nov. 2020 Hayne adds, however, that in situ sampling by robots or astronauts is required to properly assess their actual ice content. — Leonard David, Scientific American, "Water Found in Sunlight and Shadow on the Moon," 26 Oct. 2020 Using advanced microscopy, spectroscopy and in situ mechanical testing, researchers identified the architectural designs within the creature's exoskeleton. — Amy Woodyatt, CNN, "This super-beetle can survive being run over by a car -- and help with engineering problems," 21 Oct. 2020 The Veroneses in the Louvre show us, in this sense, more historical truth than a Veronese in situ in Venice might. — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, "In Love with the Louvre," 19 Oct. 2020 Ultimately, the Finnish National Board of Antiquities decided to leave the Vrouw Maria in situ, leaving the question of the artworks’ fate unresolved. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, "Catherine the Great’s Lost Treasure, the Rise of Animal Rights and Other New Books to Read," 4 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'in situ.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of in situ

1740, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for in situ

Latin, in position

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Time Traveler for in situ

Time Traveler

The first known use of in situ was in 1740

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Last Updated

16 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“In situ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20situ. Accessed 17 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for in situ

in situ

adverb or adjective
in si·​tu | \ (ˈ)in-ˈsī-(ˌ)t(y)ü, -ˈsi- also -ˈsē-, -(ˌ)chü \

Medical Definition of in situ

: in the natural or original position or place an in situ cancer confined to the breast duct — see carcinoma in situ

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