viviparous

adjective

vi·​vip·​a·​rous vī-ˈvi-p(ə-)rəs  və- 

1

: producing living young instead of eggs from within the body in the manner of nearly all mammals, many reptiles, and a few fishes

2

: germinating while still attached to the parent plant

the viviparous seed of the mangrove

viviparously adverb

Examples of viviparous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among more than 4,000 species of frogs and toads, fewer than 1% are viviparous, or bear live young. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 13 Nov. 2025

Certain types, such as oleander aphids, are viviparous (giving birth to live young) and parthenogenetic (giving birth without mating). — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025

That said, a better destination for a viviparous tomato may be your garden bed rather than your caprese salad! — Dr. Nick Goltz, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025

This is a particular problem for viviparous sharks, which give birth to live young. — Claudia Geib, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2024

Sharks that give birth to live young are viviparous like humans. — Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024

Or maybe the fossil of a viviparous archosaur is somewhere out there, just waiting to be found. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Latin viviparus, from vivus alive + -parus -parous

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for viviparous

• oviparous

Kids Definition

viviparous

adjective

vi·​vip·​a·​rous vī-ˈvip-(ə-)rəs 

və-

: giving birth to living young from within the body rather than laying eggs

nearly all mammals and some reptiles are viviparous

Medical Definition

viviparous

adjective

vi·​vip·​a·​rous vī-ˈvip-(ə-)rəs  və- 

: producing living young instead of eggs from within the body in the manner of nearly all mammals, many reptiles, and a few fishes compare larviparous, oviparous, ovoviviparous

viviparously adverb