Word
fetal
Phoneticsfe·tal, stress on the first syllable
/ˈfitəɫ/
UK spelling · foetal
Definitions
01biological
B2 · Upper Intermediate Medicine Technical
adj. relating to a baby that is still growing inside its mother.
adj. pertaining to or connected with a fetus during its development in the womb.
“The doctor monitored the fetal heartbeat during the routine checkup.”
“Advanced imaging techniques allow specialists to monitor fetal development with extraordinary precision throughout the second trimester.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun.
02body position
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. describing a way of lying down with your knees pulled up to your chest.
adj. denoting a physical posture characterized by a curled torso and limbs drawn toward the chest, resembling a fetus.
“He fell asleep in a fetal position on the sofa.”
“After the exhausting marathon, she collapsed onto the grass in a fetal position to recover her breath.”
Usage
Almost always used in the phrase 'fetal position'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Tissue resident macrophages are unusually long-lived cells that settle into organs during fetal development.” “You spend a considerable portion of Silent Hill: Townfall in a kind of foetal position, cowering behind objects that will be eerily familiar to anyone who lived in the UK during the 1990s.” Etymology
From fetus + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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