infertile

/ɪnˈfɜːtaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈfɜːrtl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˈ)in-ˈfər-tᵊl/ (ame, mw)

infertile — adjective

  • infertilepositive
  • more infertilecomparative
  • most infertilesuperlative

1. unable to produce babies, young animals, or new plants through natural biologica

1.形容詞B2
釋義

unable to produce babies, young animals, or new plants through natural biological processes, either temporarily or permanently

例句

After several tests, the doctor told Fatima that she was infertile.

Infertile couples often seek medical help to start a family.

attributive use: infertile couples

同義詞
  • sterile

    stronger and usually implies a permanent or surgically induced condition; also means germ-free in medical contexts

  • barren

    more literary or old-fashioned when used for people; commonly used for land

  • childless

    describes the state of not having children, not necessarily the biological inability to have them

反義詞
  • fertile

    able to produce babies, young animals, or seeds

文法句型

infertile + noun

be/become/remain + infertile

用法筆記

Used for humans, animals, and plants. For people, the discussion is often medical. The noun form is 'infertility'. Unlike 'sterile', 'infertile' does not imply permanence — some forms can be treated.

常見錯誤

❌She is sterile after the illness.
✅She became infertile after the illness.
💡'sterile' in medical English usually means unable to reproduce permanently (often by surgery); 'infertile' is the broader, more common term for the inability to conceive.
❌He is infertile to have children.
✅He is infertile.
💡'infertile' is an adjective; do not use 'to + verb' after it.

2. describing land or soil that lacks the nutrients or quality needed for plants an

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describing land or soil that lacks the nutrients or quality needed for plants and crops to grow well

例句

Nothing grows in that field because the soil is so infertile.

predicative: soil is infertile

Farmers near the desert struggle with infertile land that cannot support crops.

attributive: infertile land

同義詞
  • barren

    similar meaning; emphasizes that little or nothing can grow there

  • unproductive

    broader term that can describe land, workers, meetings, or investments

  • arid

    specifically about lack of water rather than nutrients; related but not identical

反義詞
  • fertile

    rich in nutrients and able to support abundant plant growth

  • productive

    yielding good results or large amounts of crops

文法句型

infertile + noun

be/become/turn + infertile

用法筆記

Only used for land, soil, or terrain — not for food or prepared substances. The opposite is 'fertile'. Often appears in discussions of agriculture, geography, or environmental degradation.

常見錯誤

❌This food tastes infertile.
✅This soil is infertile.
💡'infertile' only describes land/soil, not food or food quality.
❌The infertile land has not good for growing crops.
✅The infertile land is not good for growing crops.
💡'has not' cannot replace 'is not' in this context.