'IVF' originates from the Latin phrase 'in vitro,' meaning 'in glass,' referring to the process of fertilization occurring outside the living organism.

'In vitro' was used in scientific contexts to describe processes occurring in a controlled environment outside a living organism, eventually leading to the term 'in vitro fertilization' or 'IVF.'

Initially, 'in vitro' referred to any biological process occurring outside a living organism, but it has become synonymous with assisted reproductive technology.