in vitro

adverb or adjective

in vi·​tro in-ˈvē-(ˌ)trō How to pronounce in vitro (audio) -ˈvi- How to pronounce in vitro (audio)
-ˈwē-
: outside the living body and in an artificial environment

Examples of in vitro 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.
What Research Actually Shows About Cloves Most existing research has been conducted on animals or in vitro with high concentrations of cloves, not with clove water or the whole spice. Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 26 Aug. 2025 Davis points out that most of the evidence surrounding immunity and digestion benefits has only been found in in vitro (testing cells or other biological matter in a lab, outside of a human body) or animal studies, not on humans. Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025 The researchers used a mouse model with in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer to separate the two time periods, pre-pregnancy and gestation. New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2025 The resulting footage, which shows how embryos push and pull to anchor themselves in the uterus in vivid detail, could lead to improvements for in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, the scientists say. Humberto Basilio, Scientific American, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for in vitro

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, literally, in glass

First Known Use

circa 1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in vitro was circa 1894

Cite this Entry

“In vitro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20vitro. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

in vitro

adverb or adjective
in vi·​tro in-ˈvē-(ˌ)trō How to pronounce in vitro (audio)
: outside the living body and in an artificial environment
an egg fertilized in vitro
Etymology

Latin, literally, "in glass"

Medical Definition

in vitro

adverb or adjective
: outside the living body and in an artificial environment
growth of cells in vitro
in vitro studies
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!