Definition

Relating to substances or factors that can cause physical defects in a developing embryo or fetus.

Example

Certain medications can be teratogenic, leading to serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy.

Conversation

Have you heard about the effects of some medications on pregnancy?

Yeah, I read that some can be teratogenic and cause serious issues.

It's really scary to think about how certain substances can affect development.

Absolutely, it's important to be aware of those risks for the baby's health.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Teratogenic is formed from "terato-" (from Greek "teratos", meaning monster or malformation) and "-genic" (from Greek "genes", meaning born of or produced by). The word describes substances that can cause malformations or abnormalities in developing embryos or fetuses.

Memory Tip

Think of 'terato-' meaning monster or malformation, and '-genic' meaning produced by. This helps you remember that teratogenic refers to something that produces malformations.

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