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in vitro fertilization

American  

noun

  1. a specialized technique by which an ovum, especially a human one, is fertilized by sperm outside the body, with the resulting embryo later implanted in the uterus for gestation.


in vitro fertilization British  

noun

  1.  IVF.  a technique enabling some women who are unable to conceive to bear children. Egg cells removed from a woman's ovary are fertilized by sperm in vitro; some of the resulting fertilized egg cells are incubated until the blastocyst stage, which are then implanted into her uterus

"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

in vitro fertilization Scientific  
  1. Fertilization of an egg outside the body of a female by the addition of sperm, as a means of producing a zygote.


Etymology

Origin of in vitro fertilization

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But it thinks Monash IVF’s shareholders will be keen for a deal to get done, given the near-term outlook for the in vitro fertilization specialist’s business.

From The Wall Street Journal

Nelson was still married in 2020 when the fertility clinic called her at work with devastating news: Her husband had just requested the destruction of the embryos they created through in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

From The Wall Street Journal

Yet in January, she tried again, five years after her first attempt at in vitro fertilization.

From The Wall Street Journal

The stand-up comic and actor had two comedy specials in recent years, including, “Son I Never Had” on Netflix, where she talked about her journey with in vitro fertilization, or IVF, and “Breadwinner” on Hulu.

From Los Angeles Times

In what Abdallah described as a series of miracles, nobody was in the clinic last Saturday morning and its in vitro fertilization lab remained intact despite the mighty force of the explosion.

From Los Angeles Times