in situ

adverb or adjective in si·tu \ (ˌ)in-ˈsī-(ˌ)tü , -ˈsi- , -(ˌ)tyü also -ˈsē- , -(ˌ)chü \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Definition of in situ

: in the natural or original position or place

an in situ cancer confined to the breast duct

Recent Examples of in situ from the Web

The four artists who make up the collective, Wolfgang Gantner, Ali Janka, Florian Reither and Tobias Urban, spent two weeks building up the sculptures in situ in the large contemporary galleries at the Boijmans before the opening on May 19.

— nina siegal, New York Times, "In This Exhibition, You Walk Through Excrement," 7 June 2018
Alas, nothing remains in situ of Fersen’s furnishings and objets d’art, although historic photographs blown up large and displayed in the vaulted drawing room give a sense of its crowded fin de siècle glamour.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "Exploring Villa Lysis, an Aesthete’s Retreat in Capri," 28 June 2018
Seeing the pieces in situ also ignites imagination.

— laura mauk-caines, SFChronicle.com, "SF boutique Future Perfect is also its founder’s apartment," 15 June 2018
Lasik — short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis — eliminates the need for glasses by reshaping the cornea, the clear round dome that covers the front of the eye.

— author: roni caryn rabin, Anchorage Daily News, "Blurred vision, burning eyes: This is a Lasik success?," 12 June 2018
Cutting Nerves Within the Eye Lasik — short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis — eliminates the need for glasses by reshaping the cornea, the clear round dome that covers the front of the eye.

— New York Times, "Blurred Vision, Burning Eyes: This Is a Lasik Success?," 11 June 2018
For those diagnosed with certain low-risk cancers, such as prostate, thyroid and an early form of breast cancer known an ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, aggressive treatment may reduce quality of life while adding no longevity benefit.

— steven petrow, Washington Post, "Watching but not treating cancer can be hard. Sometimes it’s the right approach.," 20 May 2018
People who purchase the auction catalogue for $50 may see the objects in situ, as Frank Sinatra or the Queen of England might have, this Thursday and Friday.

— chris nichols, Los Angeles Magazine, "Step Inside Zsa Zsa Gabor’s Mansion in Bel-Air," 12 Apr. 2018
The food pictured here is perfectly in situ, showing hands, dogs, aprons, and of course, wine, alongside tempting dishes.

— michaela bechler, Vogue, "5 New Cookbooks That Will Transport You Around the World," 3 Apr. 2018

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.