in situ

adverb or adjective

in si·​tu (ˌ)in-ˈsī-(ˌ)tü 

-ˈsi-, 

-(ˌ)tyü 

also -ˈsē-, 

-(ˌ)chü 

: in the natural or original position or place

an in situ cancer confined to the breast duct

Examples of in situ in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s usually skepticism whenever established sporting structures that have been in situ for over a century face disruption. —Emile Nuh, CNN Money, 22 May 2026

At the time, reports of harpy eagles taking on large primates were proliferating, but there were no formal observations of it occurring naturally in situ. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026

That's when she was finally given a biopsy and officially diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in situ (stage 0 cancer). —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026

Many of those buyers were in situ when Disney bought Fox’s entertainment assets in 2018, so to see one studio snap up another is not an unprecedented scenario, but there’s a real sense the Par-WBD deal is different. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, in position

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in situ

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue

Kids Definition

in situ

adverb or adjective

in si·​tu (ˈ)in-ˈsī-t(y)ü 

-ˈsi-

: in the natural or original position

the cancer cells remained in situ

Etymology

Latin, "in position"

Medical Definition

in situ

adverb or adjective

in si·​tu

(ˈ)in-ˈsī-(ˌ)t(y)ü, -ˈsi- also -ˈsē-, -(ˌ)chü

: in the natural or original position or place

an in situ cancer confined to the breast duct

see carcinoma in situ