ectopic pregnancy

American  

noun

Medicine/Medical.

• ectopic pregnancies
  plural

1. the development of a fertilized ovum outside the uterus, as in a Fallopian tube.

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ectopic pregnancy British  

noun

1. pathol the abnormal development of a fertilized egg outside the cavity of the uterus, usually within a Fallopian tube

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ectopic pregnancies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of ectopic pregnancy

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ectopic pregnancy

The number of women who died after an ectopic pregnancy has spiked in recent years, a ProPublica analysis found.

From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026

In June, as I was drafting this essay, we experienced another pregnancy loss, this time a rare and dangerous type of ectopic pregnancy.

From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026

For Zoe Armstrong, 35, from Bristol - who lost two pregnancies, including an ectopic pregnancy that became "trapped" due to her endometriosis - a rapid test could have made all the difference.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

In the novel, Hubie and Janine’s relationship pivots after an ectopic pregnancy ends in loss.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

Illnesses have always run through his family—his father died years ago after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, his aunt died from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, and so on—but Vin believed he was better, stronger.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera