infertility

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the inability or reduced ability of a person, animal, or population to produce offspring

   The clinic investigates several possible causes of infertility in both partners.

2. 2
   noun

   the condition of soil or land that cannot support healthy or abundant growth

   Years of erosion left the hillside with severe soil infertility.

From Middle French infertilite and Late Latin infertilitas, based on infertilis, 'unfruitful,' from in- ('not') + fertilis ('fruitful, productive'). The word applies both to biological reproduction and, by the older agricultural image of fruitfulness, to unproductive soil.

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