noun
Uncommon
fetus
FEE-tuhs
Fetus (noun) means an unborn mammal at a later stage of development, showing recognizable features of the adult animal. Example: “By the second trimester, the fetus has all its major organs formed.”
noun
1
An unborn mammal at a later stage of development, showing recognizable features of the adult animal.
"By the second trimester, the fetus has all its major organs formed."
"The vet used a scan to check on the fetus inside the pregnant cat."
"A mare carries her fetus for nearly a year."
How to use fetus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe medical term for an unborn baby past the early embryo stage.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- fetuses, feti, fetii
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
By the second trimester, the _____ has all its major organs formed.
Etymology
A learned borrowing from Latin fētus ("offspring"); a doublet of fawn.
Synonyms
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unborn young
foetus
Related words
Rhymes for fetus
See all rhymes for fetus →Frequently asked questions
What does “fetus” mean?
The word “fetus” means an unborn mammal at a later stage of development, showing recognizable features of the adult animal. In plain terms, the medical term for an unborn baby past the early embryo stage.
How do you pronounce “fetus”?
“Fetus” is pronounced FEE-tuhs (/ˈfiːtəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “fetus” in a sentence?
Here is “fetus” used in a sentence: “By the second trimester, the fetus has all its major organs formed.”
What part of speech is “fetus”?
“Fetus” is a noun.
Where does the word “fetus” come from?
The word “fetus” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin fētus ("offspring"); a doublet of fawn.
Is “fetus” a common word?
“Fetus” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between a fetus and an embryo?
An embryo refers to the earliest stage of development after fertilization, before major organs and features have formed, while a fetus refers to a later stage at which the developing mammal already shows recognizable features of the adult animal. The shift from embryo to fetus marks a developmental milestone rather than a change in species.
Does fetus only apply to humans?
No, fetus is a general term for an unborn mammal at a later stage of development, so it can refer to the developing young of any mammal, not just humans.
What is the correct spelling, fetus or foetus?
Fetus is the standard spelling in American English, while foetus is the traditional spelling used in British and other Commonwealth varieties of English. Both refer to the same stage of mammalian prenatal development.
