definitions

fertility

[ fer-til-i-tee ]
/ fərˈtɪl ɪ ti /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR fertility ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state or quality of being fertile.
Biology. the ability to produce offspring; power of reproduction: the amazing fertility of rabbits.
the birthrate of a population.
(of soil) the capacity to supply nutrients in proper amounts for plant growth when other factors are favorable.

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RELATED WORDS

pregnancy, virility, potency, productivity, abundance, puberty, richness, productiveness, fruitfulness, gravidity, fecundity, prolificacy, copiousness, luxuriance, pubescence, prolificity

Nearby words

ferryman, fertigate, fertile, fertile crescent, fertile period, fertility, fertility cult, fertility drug, fertility factor, fertility symbol, fertilization

Origin of fertility

1375–1425; late Middle English fertilite (< Middle French) < Latin fertilitās. See fertile, -ity

Related forms

non·fer·til·i·ty, nouno·ver·fer·til·i·ty, nounpre·fer·til·i·ty, nounun·fer·til·i·ty, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fertility

British Dictionary definitions for fertility

fertility

/ (fɜːˈtɪlɪtɪ) /

noun

the ability to produce offspring, esp abundantly
the state or quality of being fertile
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for fertility

fertility

[ fər-tĭl′ĭ-tē ]

n.

The state of being fertile, especially the ability to produce young.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Science definitions for fertility

fertile

[ fûr′tl ]

Capable of producing offspring, seeds, or fruit.
Capable of developing into a complete organism; fertilized.
Capable of supporting plant life; favorable to the growth of crops and plants.

Related forms

fertility noun
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.