viviparous

adjective

vi·​vip·​a·​rous vī-ˈvi-p(ə-)rəs  və- 

1

: producing living young instead of eggs from within the body in the manner of nearly all mammals, many reptiles, and a few fishes

2

: germinating while still attached to the parent plant

the viviparous seed of the mangrove

viviparously adverb

Examples of viviparous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That said, a better destination for a viviparous tomato may be your garden bed rather than your caprese salad! —Dr. Nick Goltz, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025

Certain types, such as oleander aphids, are viviparous (giving birth to live young) and parthenogenetic (giving birth without mating). —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025

This is a particular problem for viviparous sharks, which give birth to live young. —Claudia Geib, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2024

Sharks that give birth to live young are viviparous like humans. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024

To this day, the island has only a single native terrestrial reptile: the common or viviparous lizard, which must have arrived sometime in the past 10,000 years, following the end of the ice age. —Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 9 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin viviparus, from vivus alive + -parus -parous

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for viviparous

• oviparous

Kids Definition

viviparous

adjective

vi·​vip·​a·​rous vī-ˈvip-(ə-)rəs 

və-

: giving birth to living young from within the body rather than laying eggs

nearly all mammals and some reptiles are viviparous

Medical Definition

viviparous

adjective

vi·​vip·​a·​rous vī-ˈvip-(ə-)rəs  və- 

: producing living young instead of eggs from within the body in the manner of nearly all mammals, many reptiles, and a few fishes compare larviparous, oviparous, ovoviviparous

viviparously adverb