WordGarden.ioinfertile
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪnfˈɜːtaɪl/
US
- /ˌɪnˈfɜrtəl/
Meanings
Adjective
unable to become pregnant or produce offspring
unable to support healthy plant growth or crops
not productive in ideas, results, or possibilities
Beyond the definition
The word "infertile" is most often used for a person or animal that cannot produce children or young. It can also describe land that does not grow plants or crops well. In both cases, the idea is the same: something is not able to produce life in the usual way. When the word is used about people, it can feel very personal, so it should be used with care.
The word "infertile" primarily describes not being able to reproduce. It is most often used for humans or animals that cannot have children or young. This is a sensitive subject for many people, so the word should be used with care and respect. It describes a condition, but in everyday life it can carry strong feelings.
The word is also used for land or soil that does not grow crops, plants, or other life well. A farmer might describe a field as infertile after repeated poor harvests. In this sense, the word suggests that the ground lacks what is needed for healthy growth.
Sometimes people also use the word in a wider, figurative way for something that does not produce useful results, but that is less common than the biological and agricultural meanings. The main idea stays the same: there is no growth, no new life, or no successful result.
So, whether it refers to a person, an animal, or a piece of land, "infertile" usually points to an inability to produce life or support growth.
Examples
- 1
Medical diagnosis
After two years of trying for a baby, they discovered that he was infertile.
- 2
Health consequence
The illness did not threaten her life, but it could leave her infertile.
- 3
Farming land
Much of the region is dry and infertile, so farmers depend on irrigation.
- 4
Environmental damage
Centuries of overgrazing turned the once fertile valley into infertile land.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- infertileadjective