uterus

noun

uter·​us ˈyü-tə-rəs How to pronounce uterus (audio)
ˈyü-trəs
plural uteri ˈyü-tə-ˌrī How to pronounce uterus (audio) or uteruses
1
: a muscular organ of the female mammal for containing and usually for nourishing the young during development prior to birth

called also womb

2
: a structure in some lower animals analogous to the uterus in which eggs or young develop

Examples of uterus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Your provider may also use imaging tests, like a pelvic ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create images of your uterus and find the cause of heavy bleeding.15 In some cases, your provider may perform a hysteroscopy. Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 8 Mar. 2025 Endometriosis causes tissue that is similar to the uterine lining to grow outside of the uterus. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 Mar. 2025 Once the sperm has been obtained from the birthing parent’s partner or a sperm donor, the healthcare provider can place it directly into the uterus. Khadeja Haye, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025 Endometriosis is when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uterus

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, belly, womb; probably akin to Greek hoderos belly, Sanskrit udara

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of uterus was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Uterus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uterus. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

uterus

noun
uter·​us ˈyüt-ə-rəs How to pronounce uterus (audio)
plural uteruses or uteri -ˌrī How to pronounce uterus (audio)
: the muscular organ of a female mammal in which the young develop before birth

called also womb

Medical Definition

uterus

noun
uter·​us ˈyüt-ə-rəs How to pronounce uterus (audio)
plural uteri -ˌrī How to pronounce uterus (audio) also uteruses
: an organ in female mammals for containing and usually for nourishing the young during development prior to birth that consists of a greatly modified and enlarged section of an oviduct (as in rodents and marsupials) or of the two oviducts united (as in the higher primates including humans), that has thick walls consisting of an outer serous layer, a very thick middle layer of smooth muscle, and an inner mucous layer containing numerous glands, and that during pregnancy undergoes great increase in size and change in the condition of its walls

called also womb

see cervix sense 2a, corpus uteri, endometrium, fundus sense c, myometrium, perimetrium

More from Merriam-Webster on uterus

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