uterus

American  

[yoo-ter-uhs] / ˈyu tər əs /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

uteri, plural uteruses plural

1. the enlarged, muscular, expandable portion of the oviduct in which the fertilized ovum implants and develops or rests during prenatal development; the womb of certain mammals.

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uterus British  

/ ˈjuːtərəs /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: womb.  anatomy a hollow muscular organ lying within the pelvic cavity of female mammals. It houses the developing fetus and by contractions aids in its expulsion at parturition

2. the corresponding organ in other animals

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uterus Scientific  

/ yo̅o̅′tər-əs /

uteri plural

1. The hollow, muscular organ of female mammals in which the embryo develops. In most mammals the uterus is divided into two saclike parts, whereas in primates it is a single structure. It lies between the bladder and rectum and is attached to the vagina and the fallopian tubes. During the menstrual cycle (estrus), the lining of the uterus (endometrium) undergoes changes that permit the implantation of a fertilized egg.

2. Also called womb

3. See more at menstrual cycle

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uterus Cultural  

1. A pear-shaped organ in the female reproductive system where the embryo or fetus develops until birth. The strong muscles of the uterus help push the baby out of the mother's body.

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• uteruses
  plural
• uteri
  plural

Etymology

Origin of uterus

1605–15; < Latin: the womb, matrix; akin to Greek hystéra womb, Sanskrit udara belly

Compare meaning

How does uterus compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cervix vs. uterus

Example Sentences

A tube containing the IUD is then passed through the tiny cervical opening into the uterus, a process that is excruciating for many patients.

From Slate • Jun. 7, 2026

Lauren Buckland, 36, said she gets regular random "stabbing" pains in her uterus, lower back, hip and pelvis.

From BBC • May 20, 2026

Those with a uterus should use both estrogen and progestogen, to prevent uterine cancer.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

An in-person doctor’s visit is the only reliable way to diagnose an ectopic pregnancy—a life-threatening condition in which an embryo implants outside the uterus.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

How Madeline, at seventeen, had still not gotten her period, and how the doctor had then examined her and discovered that she had no uterus.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng