Maternity definition

mə-tûrnĭ-tē
maternities
See word origin
Frequency:
The definition of maternity is something related to giving birth.

An example of maternity used as an adjective is in the phrase "maternity clothes," which means clothes made for pregnant women.

adjective
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The state of being a mother; motherhood.
noun
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The state of being a mother; motherhood.
noun
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Maternity is defined as the state of being a mother.

An example of maternity is when a woman has children.

noun
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A maternity ward.
noun
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Relating to or effective during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first months of motherhood.

A maternity dress; maternity leave.

adjective
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The character or qualities of a mother; motherliness.
noun
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A maternity ward in a hospital.
noun
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For a woman when pregnant or around the time of giving birth.

Maternity dress, maternity leave.

adjective
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For the care of women giving birth and of newborn babies.

A maternity ward.

adjective
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The state of being a mother; motherhood.
noun
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The feelings or characteristics associated with being a mother; motherliness.
noun
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A maternity ward.
noun
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Relating to or effective during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first months of motherhood.

A maternity dress; maternity leave.

adjective
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The state of being a mother; motherhood.
noun
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0
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The state of being pregnant; pregnancy.
noun
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A ward or department in a hospital in which babies are born.
noun
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The feelings or characteristics associated with being a mother; motherliness.
noun
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
maternity
Plural:
maternities

Origin of maternity

  • French maternité from Medieval Latin māternitās from Latin māternus maternal maternal

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Borrowing from Latin māternitās.

    From Wiktionary

Maternity Sentence Examples

  • Didn't you realize you would have to buy some maternity clothes?

  • It has a Carnegie library (a branch of the public library of Cincinnati) and a Catholic maternity hospital.

  • Second, find out when the general manager of the fast food joint where she worked was returning from maternity leave.

  • Moreover, the more recent celebrity mom trend has been an inspiration to fields of both baby and maternity apparel, leading some designers to take a great interest in nursing bras.

  • If an employe is ill during her unpaid maternity leave she may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay or state Incapacity Benefit.

More sentences

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Also Mentioned In

Words near maternity in the Dictionary