viviparous

V4I1V4I1P3A1R1O1U1S1
/vɪˈvɪpəɹəs/

adjective

Being born alive, as are most mammals, some reptiles, and a few fish (as opposed to being laid as an egg and subsequently hatching, as do all birds and many other species).

Similar
live-bearing
Opposite
oviparousovoviviparous
OriginLatin vīviparus →
RareScrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectiveviviparous (not comparable)
  1. not comparableBeing born alive, as are most mammals, some reptiles, and a few fish (as opposed to being laid as an egg and subsequently hatching, as do all birds and many other species).
  2. not comparableArising from an embryo that develops from the outset (rather than from a true seed that then germinates).

Synonyms & antonyms

antonym(s) of “of an animal”

Opposite
oviparous

adjectiveproducing living young (not eggs)

Similar
live-bearing
Opposite
oviparousovoviviparous

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinvīviparus
  2. Englishviviparous

From Latin vīviparus, from vīvus (“alive, life, living”) + pariō (“give birth, produce, bring forth”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek ζωότοκος
  • ζωότοκος (zōótokos)of an animal
Bulgarian живоро́ден
  • живоро́ден (živoróden)of an animal
Catalan vivípar, vivípar
  • vivíparof an animal
  • vivíparof a plant
Chinese Cantonese 胎生
  • 胎生of an animal
Chinese Mandarin 胎生, 母体发芽
  • 胎生 (tāishēng)of an animal
  • 母体发芽of a plant
Czech živorodý
  • živorodýof an animal
Dutch levendbarend, vivipaar
  • levendbarendof an animal
  • vivipaarof an animal
Finnish vivipaarinen, vivipaarinen
  • vivipaarinenof an animal
  • vivipaarinenof a plant
French vivipare, vivipare
  • vivipareof an animal
  • vivipareof a plant
German lebendgebärend, lebend gebärend
  • lebendgebärendof an animal
  • lebend gebärendof an animal
  • viviparof an animal
Greek ζωοτόκος
  • ζωοτόκος (zootókos)of an animal
Hungarian elevenszülő
  • elevenszülőof an animal
Italian viviparo
  • viviparoof an animal
Japanese 胎生の, 胎生の
  • 胎生の (taisei no)of an animal
  • 胎生の (taisei no)of a plant
Latin viviparus
  • viviparusof an animal
Malay viviparus, viviparus
  • viviparusof an animal
  • viviparusof a plant
Polish żyworodny
  • żyworodnyof an animal
Portuguese vivíparo, vivíparo
  • vivíparoof an animal
  • vivíparoof a plant
Russian живородя́щий, живородя́щий
  • живородя́щий (živorodjáščij)of an animal
  • живородя́щий (živorodjáščij)of a plant
Spanish vivíparo
  • vivíparoof an animal
Welsh bywesgorol, bywhiliog
  • bywesgorolof an animal
  • bywhiliogof a plant
Cite this entry
APA

viviparous. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/viviparous

MLA

“viviparous.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/viviparous. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “viviparous,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/viviparous.

Source: viviparous on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.