infertile
adjective
in·fer·tile
(ˈ)in-ˈfər-tᵊl 
: not fertile or productive
infertile eggs
infertile fields
especially
: incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy
infertile couples
Examples of infertile in a Sentence
an infertile cow is of limited use to a farmer
only parched, infertile fields remained after months of drought
Recent Examples on the Web
In February 2023, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine tested a non-hormonal drug that could be taken orally or via injection that made male mice temporarily infertile.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
In agriculture, hot countries that lack fresh water could harness solar power for desalinating and pumping water, enabling farmers to work previously infertile land.
—Dickon Pinner, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015
According to a 2009 epidemiological study by the nongovernmental organizations China Women and Children Development Center and the Population Association of China, more than 40 million couples in mainland China may now be infertile.
—Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011
Read Next World Fuzzy red creature was thought infertile at Canada zoo.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for infertile 
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 7 July 2024
In agriculture, hot countries that lack fresh water could harness solar power for desalinating and pumping water, enabling farmers to work previously infertile land.
—Dickon Pinner, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015
According to a 2009 epidemiological study by the nongovernmental organizations China Women and Children Development Center and the Population Association of China, more than 40 million couples in mainland China may now be infertile.
—Yanzhong Huang, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011
Read Next World Fuzzy red creature was thought infertile at Canada zoo.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for infertile
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infertile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Infertile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infertile. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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Medical Definition
infertile
adjective
in·fer·tile
(ˈ)in-ˈfərt-ᵊl
: not fertile
especially
: incapable of or unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy over a considerable period of time (as a year) in spite of determined attempts by heterosexual intercourse without contraception
infertile couples
an infertile male with a low sperm count
an infertile female with blocked fallopian tubes
compare sterile sense 1
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