fetal

American  

[feet-l] / ˈfit l /

especially British, foetal

adjective

Embryology.

1. of, relating to, or having the character of a fetus.

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fetal British  

/ ˈfiːtəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a fetus

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Other Word Forms

• postfetal
  adjective
• postfoetal
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of fetal

First recorded in 1735–45; fet(us) + -al ¹

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Explanation

Something that's fetal relates to the developing offspring of an animal before it's born. Fetal growth can be measured using sonograms and other tools. A fetal animal is also called a fetus, and something humans have in common with all other animals is our beginning in a fetal form, before our birth. Fetal development describes the way a fetus grows and changes over time, and when someone's in a fetal position, they're curled forward with bent arms and legs — like a fetus in its mother's womb. Fetal stems from the Latin fetus, "the bearing of young," or "a bringing forth."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fetal

These small clusters of cells, grown from fetal cells, reproduce important features of developing human tissue.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

They learned the oil extraction process often involves chemicals that can harm fertility or fetal health.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

As fetal hemoglobin gives way to adult hemoglobin, however, the disease begins to exert its damaging effects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

And it would not catastrophize fetal harm, which lands as shaming rather than a warning.

From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026

He remained knotted there in fetal position, paralyzed, his fists covering his eyes, for a long time.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

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