assisted reproduction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal; Technical; Medical; Academic
Quick answer
What does “assisted reproduction” mean?
Medical or scientific techniques that help individuals or couples achieve pregnancy when natural conception is difficult or impossible.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Medical or scientific techniques that help individuals or couples achieve pregnancy when natural conception is difficult or impossible.
A broad field encompassing various technologies and medical interventions to facilitate conception, often involving handling of human gametes or embryos outside the body. It can also refer to the societal and ethical domain surrounding these practices.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. 'Fertility treatment' is a slightly more common everyday synonym in both varieties, but 'assisted reproduction' is the standard technical term.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. In general discourse, it may be perceived as a more clinical and precise term than 'fertility treatment'.
Frequency
Equally standard and frequent in medical and policy contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “assisted reproduction” in a Sentence
[Patient] underwent assisted reproduction.[Clinic] specialises in assisted reproduction.Laws regulate assisted reproduction.Advances in assisted reproduction have made it possible for [group].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “assisted reproduction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The couple are being assisted to reproduce through IVF.
- They sought to reproduce with medical assistance.
American English
- The couple are being assisted in reproducing through IVF.
- They sought to reproduce with medical help.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form. Sentence using related adverb:] The child was conceived medically, with assistance.
- The reproduction occurred assisted by science.
American English
- [No standard adverbial form. Sentence using related adverb:] The child was conceived medically, with assistance.
- The reproduction occurred with scientific assistance.
adjective
British English
- They explored assisted-reproduction options.
- The assisted-reproduction journey can be long.
American English
- They explored assisted reproduction options.
- The assisted reproduction journey can be long.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in insurance policy documents, healthcare business models, and benefits discussions.
Academic
Central term in bioethics, sociology of the family, reproductive medicine, and law journals.
Everyday
Used in news articles, personal stories, and discussions about family planning options.
Technical
The definitive term in clinical guidelines, medical research, and embryology literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “assisted reproduction”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “assisted reproduction”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “assisted reproduction”
- Misspelling as 'asisted reproduction'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They reproduced assistedly' is wrong).
- Confusing it with 'fertility drugs' alone, which is only one component.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) is one specific type of assisted reproduction. Assisted reproduction is the general category that includes IVF, IUI, ICSI, and other technologies.
It is used by individuals and couples facing infertility, genetic disorders, single individuals wishing to become parents, and same-sex couples.
No. Laws regulating assisted reproduction vary significantly by country, covering aspects like who can access it, donor anonymity, embryo research, and surrogacy.
ART stands for Assisted Reproductive Technology (or Technologies). It is essentially synonymous with 'assisted reproduction' in medical literature.
Medical or scientific techniques that help individuals or couples achieve pregnancy when natural conception is difficult or impossible.
Assisted reproduction is usually formal; technical; medical; academic in register.
Assisted reproduction: in British English it is pronounced /əˌsɪstɪd ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌsɪstɪd ˌriːprəˈdʌkʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not a phrase that forms idioms. Leave empty]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ASSISTED' as needing a helper (doctor/technology) for the 'REPRODUCTION' (making a baby) process.
Conceptual Metaphor
REPRODUCTION IS A MECHANICAL PROCESS (that can be repaired or aided by technology).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically considered a form of assisted reproduction?