: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
specifically
: a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo sense 1a
Examples of fetus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even small amounts of alcohol can harm fetuses, which is why alcohol use should be avoided during pregnancy.
—
Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Pregnant people should also take extra precautions around wildfire smoke, which can cross the placenta and affect a developing fetus.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
When pregnant women take the shot, protection is passed on to their fetus.
—Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Other Medical Conditions Tachycardia can also occur as a result of other medical conditions that include:
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your heart works harder to provide more blood to the growing fetus in your uterus.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fetus 
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Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Pregnant people should also take extra precautions around wildfire smoke, which can cross the placenta and affect a developing fetus.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
When pregnant women take the shot, protection is passed on to their fetus.
—Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Other Medical Conditions Tachycardia can also occur as a result of other medical conditions that include:
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your heart works harder to provide more blood to the growing fetus in your uterus.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fetus
Dictionary Entries Near fetus
Cite this Entry
“Fetus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fetus. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fetus
noun
fe·tus
ˈfēt-əs 
plural fetuses
: a young animal while in the body of its mother or in the egg especially in the later stages of development
especially
: a developing human being in the uterus from usually two months after pregnancy occurs to birth compare embryo sense 1
Medical Definition
fetus
noun
fe·tus
variants
or chiefly British foetus
plural fetuses or chiefly British foetuses or foeti
ˈfēt-ˌī
: an unborn or unhatched vertebrate especially after attaining the basic structural plan of its kind
specifically
: a developing human from usually two months after conception to birth compare embryo
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