fetal position

noun

1. a bodily posture resembling that of the fetus in the uterus, in which the body is curled with head and limbs drawn in, sometimes assumed in states of fear or emotional withdrawal.

fetal position

noun

1. a bodily position similar to that of a fetus in the womb, with the knees up towards the chest and the head bent forward

Word History and Origins

Origin of fetal position¹

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

A glute strain began affecting his sciatic nerve and the pain left Bosa unable to do anything except lie on an exercise ball in the fetal position for hours.

From Los Angeles Times

“You kind of have to take it with some humor,” she said, “because otherwise I think you’d just be in the fetal position.”

From Seattle Times

She stops to gently touch the shoulder of a man curled up in the fetal position on the sidewalk, his head inches from the tires of a parked car.

From Seattle Times

In “Unemployment,” life-size sculptures of office workers curled up in the fetal position are wrapped in transparent plastic trash bags, gesturing at the disposability of human labor.

From New York Times

Others are curled into a fetal position.

From Los Angeles Times