fetal

adjective

fe·​tal ˈfē-tᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

Examples of fetal 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.
Like Jimothy, Cooper has short spine syndrome, a rare congenital condition in which an animal's vertebrate doesn't develop into bone during fetal development. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 31 July 2026 The two never had children; one of her Parkinson’s drugs posed fetal risk. — Wuft News, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Excess maternal sugar could also lead to insulin resistance and placental impairment, which can impact nutrient delivery and influence fetal brain development, says Sullivan. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 July 2026 As sequencing costs continue to fall and analytic tools continue to improve, the case for a comprehensive read of the fetal genome grows stronger with every study like this one. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fetal

Word History

First Known Use

1736, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fetal was in 1736

Phrases Containing fetal

Rhymes for fetal

See All Rhymes for fetal

Browse Nearby Words

feta
fetal
fetal alcohol syndrome
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Cite this Entry

“Fetal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetal. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fetal

adjective
fe·​tal ˈfēt-ᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

Medical Definition

fetal

adjective
fe·​tal
variants or chiefly British foetal
ˈfēt-ᵊl How to pronounce fetal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being a fetus

More from Merriam-Webster on fetal

Nglish: Translation of fetal for Spanish Speakers

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