in utero

adverb or adjective

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Meanwhile Moser and her colleagues have designed experiments that combine imaging with a specific task to observe whether the brain’s hardware in utero is engaged in the same kinds of processes that are present in later life. Christian Wolf, Scientific American, 25 June 2025 The skills that prepare a child to read begin developing in utero, as a baby listens to the familiar voices around them and begins to develop connections between sounds and the meanings of words in their home language. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025 Lead exposure is most serious during brain development – in utero, infancy and early childhood, and high lead exposure levels can lead to learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, and a lower IQ, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Mike Snider, USA Today, 15 May 2025 And in utero and infancy fluoride exposure levels were estimated based off of a few, point-in-time maternal urine samples. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for in utero

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in utero was in 1713

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Cite this Entry

“In utero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20utero. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
a disease acquired in utero
an in utero diagnosis

Legal Definition

in utero

adverb or adjective
: in the uterus : before birth
an injury suffered in utero
that her condition could possibly be linked to in utero exposureBurgess v. Eli Lilly & Co., 995 F.2d 646 (1993)
Etymology

Latin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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