Word
infertile
Phoneticsin·fer·tile, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈfɝtəɫ/
UK/ɪnfˈɜːtaɪl/
Medicine
Definition
adj. unable to have children. It can also describe soil that is too poor to grow crops.
adj. incapable of producing offspring; in a geological or agricultural context, lacking the necessary nutrients or moisture to support plant growth.
Examples
“The couple sought medical help after years of being infertile.”
“The couple decided to adopt after discovering they were infertile and unable to conceive naturally.”
“The region's once-fertile plains have turned into infertile wastelands due to decades of unsustainable farming practices and severe drought.”
Examples
simple
“The couple sought medical help after years of being infertile.”
contextual
“The couple decided to adopt after discovering they were infertile and unable to conceive naturally.”
complex
“The region's once-fertile plains have turned into infertile wastelands due to decades of unsustainable farming practices and severe drought.”
Etymology
From Middle French infertile, from Late Latin infertilis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/infertile