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.
That regret is less visible online because men don’t tend to shout about failing fertility. — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026 The winemaking team uses a herd of Texel sheep during the late winter and early spring to improve soil structure and fertility. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 Idaho doesn’t have any laws that address fertility treatments or frozen embryos, but both topics have been the subject of recent national political discussion. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026 Inspired by her experience, Purdie now shares her story on social media and runs a community called IVF Sisterhood in hopes of encouraging other women with fertility issues, especially those going through IVF past the age of 45. — Jessica Poitevien, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 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 27 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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