viviparous
Americanadjective
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Zoology. bringing forth living young rather than eggs, as most mammals and some reptiles and fishes.
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Botany. producing seeds that germinate on the plant.
adjective
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(of animals) producing offspring that as embryos develop within and derive nourishment from the body of the female parent Compare oviparous ovoviviparous
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(of plants) producing bulbils or young plants instead of flowers
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(of seeds) germinating before separating from the parent plant
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Giving birth to living young that develop within the mother's body rather than hatching from eggs. All mammals except the monotremes are viviparous.
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Compare oviparous ovoviviparous
Other Word Forms
- nonviviparity noun
- nonviviparous adjective
- nonviviparously adverb
- nonviviparousness noun
- viviparism noun
- viviparity noun
- viviparously adverb
- viviparousness noun
Etymology
Origin of viviparous
First recorded in 1640–50, viviparous is from the Latin word vīviparus bringing forth living young. See vivi-, -parous
Compare meaning
How does viviparous compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
"It's a real prime area for the only native lizard that we get in Northern Ireland - the viviparous lizard," he added.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2025
A few species of sharks are viviparous: The young develop within the mother’s body and she gives live birth.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015
A few species of sharks are viviparous, that is, the young develop within the mother’s body, and she gives live birth.
From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013
Adults are impervious to predation; juveniles are not, but the extended parental care in these viviparous squamates means that small individuals are defended by adults.
From Scientific American • Apr. 1, 2013
“Try to realize what it was like to have a viviparous mother.”
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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.
