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Synonyms

infertility

American  
[in-fer-til-i-tee] / ˌɪn fərˈtɪl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

infertilities

  1. the condition or fact of being infertile or unproductive.

  2. Pathology. the condition of being unable to conceive or bear children, or any of various subtypes of this condition depending on specific cause.

infertility Scientific  
/ ĭn′fər-tĭl′ĭ-tē /

  1. The inability to achieve conception after persistent attempts over a given period of time, usually one year in humans.

Other Word Forms

  • anti-infertility adjective

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.

The chemicals, known as PFAS, don’t break down in the environment and accumulate in the body, potentially causing health problems such as cancer and infertility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says infertility affects roughly 1 in 6 people globally.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

"You are met with really poor words from people," Kay, 33, from Manchester, told Woman's Hour's Guide to Life in an episode about navigating conversations around infertility.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

A loving husband and wife desperately want to start a family but struggle with infertility.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

They were pioneers in the field of infertility treatments, and were responsible for the first test-tube baby born in the United States.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.