infertile

[in-fur-tl or, esp. British, -tahyl]

See more synonyms for infertile on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not fertile; unproductive; sterile; barren: infertile soil.

Origin of infertile

From the Latin word infertilis, dating back to 1590–1600. See in-³, fertile

Related formsin·fer·tile·ly, adverbin·fer·til·i·ty, in·fer·tile·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for infertile

Contemporary Examples

The foundation, named after her mother, provides financial help to needy families that are infertile.
Want Blue Eyes With That Baby?: The Strange New World of Human Reproduction
Eleanor Clift
November 24, 2014
All too often, infertile women are considered cursed, she said.
IVF for Just $300 Could Be a Reality Soon
Randi Hutter Epstein
August 31, 2013
But most are not lingering in the foster care system because of a shortage of infertile people who want to be parents.
Can Gay Marriage Solve Our Adoption Problem?
Megan McArdle
March 29, 2013
Indeed, many think that such uneasiness is an infertile ground to try to make a sale (or for relief of an unbearable urge).
Could Graphic New Anti Smoking Ads Do More Harm?
Kent Sepkowitz
March 16, 2012
According to Family Planning International, about 10 percent of all couples worldwide are or have been infertile.
The Global Infertility Crisis
Anita Allen
November 13, 2008

Historical Examples

Seventh, the old queen, when infertile, cannot be removed or replaced.
Langstroth on the Hive and the Honey-Bee
L. L. Langstroth
If the eggs still are infertile, the cock should be sold in the market.
Profitable Squab Breeding
Carl Dare
When the parts are deficient, the flowers are called barren or infertile.
American Pomology
J. A. Warder
Infertile, not producing seed, or pollen, as the case may be.
The Elements of Botany
Asa Gray
Infertile eggs cannot heat because the germ has not been fertilized and can make no growth.
The Dollar Hen
Milo M. Hastings

British Dictionary definitions for infertile

infertile

adjective

not capable of producing offspring; sterile
(of land) not productive; barren

Derived Formsinfertilely, adverbinfertility (ˌɪnfəˈtɪlɪtɪ), noun

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

Word Origin and History for infertile

adj.

1590s, from French infertile (late 15c.), from Late Latin infertilis "unfruitful," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + fertilis (see fertile).

infertile in Medicine

infertile

(ĭn-fûr′tl)

adj.

Not capable of initiating, sustaining, or supporting reproduction.

infertile in Science

infertile

[ĭn-fûr′tl]

Not capable of reproducing.
Not capable of developing into a complete organism, as infertile eggs.
Relating to soil or land that is not capable of supporting or is unfavorable to the growth of plants.

infertile

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}infertile

Examples from the Web for infertile

Contemporary Examples

The foundation, named after her mother, provides financial help to needy families that are infertile.

All too often, infertile women are considered cursed, she said.

But most are not lingering in the foster care system because of a shortage of infertile people who want to be parents.

Indeed, many think that such uneasiness is an infertile ground to try to make a sale (or for relief of an unbearable urge).

According to Family Planning International, about 10 percent of all couples worldwide are or have been infertile.

Historical Examples

Seventh, the old queen, when infertile, cannot be removed or replaced.

If the eggs still are infertile, the cock should be sold in the market.

When the parts are deficient, the flowers are called barren or infertile.

Infertile, not producing seed, or pollen, as the case may be.

Infertile eggs cannot heat because the germ has not been fertilized and can make no growth.

infertile

Word Origin and History for infertile

adj.

infertile

infertile

Origin of infertile