SINCE 1828
in utero
adverb or adjective
\ in-ˈyü-tə-ˌrō
\
\
Definition of in utero
: 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
Normally fetal hemoglobin, which provides the developing fetus with oxygen via the blood while in utero, is shut off about six months after birth, and genes for adult hemoglobin are turned on. — Time, "CRISPR Gene Editing Is Being Tested in Human Patients, and the Results Could Revolutionize Health Care," 6 Aug. 2019 Even in utero, a mom's chronic stress can affect baby's stress-hormone levels. — Olivia Campbell, Good Housekeeping, "I've Struggled With Depression, So I Can't Always Be The "Happy" Mom," 8 July 2019 During the outbreak in Brazil, which spread through North and South America, Zika spurred widespread concern that babies exposed to the virus in utero would be born with devastating and long-lasting birth defects. — Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, "One-third of toddlers exposed to Zika in the womb suffer developmental problems, study says," 8 July 2019 Doctors performed the in utero surgery by making a small c-section-like incision. — Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "Cleveland Clinic performs its first fetal surgery to repair spina bifida," 20 June 2019 But then researchers started identifying them in human blood and tissue, and even newborns showed evidence of exposure in utero. — Gabriel Filippelli, Quartz, "A geochemist’s simple tricks to reduce dust in your home," 20 June 2019 In the world of medicine, in utero fetal surgery for the spina bifida defect is still relatively new. — Ginger Christ, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Clinic makes strategic move into prenatal care, performs first in utero fetal surgery," 24 June 2019 Rebrikov plans to disable the gene, which encodes a protein that allows HIV to enter cells, in embryos that will be implanted into HIV-positive mothers, reducing the risk of them passing on the virus to the baby in utero. — David Cyranoski, Scientific American, "Russian Biologist Plans More CRISPR-Edited Babies," 11 June 2019 Seventy orcas have been born in captivity around the world since 1977 (not counting another 30 that were stillborn or died in utero), according to records in two databases maintained by cetacean experts. — Natasha Daly, National Geographic, "Orcas don’t do well in captivity. Here’s why.," 25 Mar. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'in utero.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for in utero
in utero
adverb or adjective
\ in-ˈyüt-ə-ˌrō
\
\
Medical Definition of in utero
: in the uterus : before birth
a disease acquired in utero an in utero diagnosis
in utero
adverb or adjective
\ in-ˈyü-tə-rō
\
\
Legal Definition of in utero
: 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)
Comments on in utero
What made you want to look up in utero? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Summer 2019 Words of the Day Quiz
-
- Which is a synonym of desideratum?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share in utero
Resources for in utero