intrauterine

American

[in-truh-yoo-ter-in, -tuh-rahyn] / ˌɪn trəˈyu tər ɪn, -təˌraɪn /

adjective

located or occurring within the uterus.

intrauterine British

/ ˌɪntrəˈjuːtəraɪn /

adjective

within the womb

"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

Etymology

Origin of intrauterine

First recorded in 1825–35; intra- + uterine

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 centers are also adding nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, for intrauterine device insertions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

This includes treatments such as hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine delivery systems.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2025

Marsee learned how to administer medication abortion pills, procedural abortions, and highly effective birth control methods, including hormonal implants and intrauterine devices.

From Salon • Nov. 18, 2024

Many doctors insist that using an intrauterine device requires at least two visits to their office: One to get it in, and eventually, one to get it out.

From Slate • Aug. 23, 2024

Long Retention of Uterine Pregnancy.—Cases of long retained intrauterine pregnancies are on record and deserve as much consideration as those that were extrauterine.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)

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