fertility

noun

fer·​til·​i·​ty (ˌ)fər-ˈti-lə-tē How to pronounce fertility (audio)
Synonyms of fertilitynext
1
: the quality or state of being fertile
2
: the birth rate of a population

Examples of fertility in a Sentence

She studied the effects of pollution on the fertility of the local fish population. The doctor ordered a test of his fertility. The area is known for its soil fertility. the fertility of his imagination
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the past decade and a half, a rise in fertility coupled with funding cuts has led to more students, but fewer teachers in classrooms. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 The ruling had created legal and criminal liability risks for fertility doctors. — Kim Jackson, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 Experts say forever chemicals can have a major impact on your health, compromising immunity, decreasing fertility, causing developmental delays in children and increasing the risk of certain kinds of cancers. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 These heirlooms, known as tekemets, reflected the full spectrum of steppe values, depicting sacral elements such as koshkar muiz (‘ram horns’ in Kazakh), the foremost symbol of wealth, abundance, and fertility. — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fertility

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fertility was in the 15th century

Rhymes for fertility

See All Rhymes for fertility

Browse Nearby Words

fertile soil
fertility
fertility cult
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Cite this Entry

“Fertility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fertility. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

fertility

noun
fer·​til·​i·​ty (ˌ)fər-ˈtil-ət-ē How to pronounce fertility (audio)
plural fertilities
1
: the quality or state of being fertile
2
: the birth rate of a population

More from Merriam-Webster on fertility

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for fertility

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fertility

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