maternity

ma·ter·ni·ty

Use maternity in a sentence

Maternity is motherhood.

adjective

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.

noun

Maternity is defined as the state of being a mother.
An example of maternity is when a woman has children.

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"maternity." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity>.

APA Style

maternity. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity

maternity

noun

pl. -·ties

the state of being a mother; motherhood
the character or qualities of a mother; motherliness
a maternity ward in a hospital

Origin of maternity

French maternité from Medieval Latin maternitas from Classical Latin maternus, maternal

for a woman when pregnant or around the time of giving birth: maternity dress, maternity leave
for the care of women giving birth and of newborn babies: a maternity ward

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MLA Style

"maternity." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity>.

APA Style

maternity. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity

maternity

noun

pl. ma·ter·ni·ties

The state of being a mother; motherhood.
The feelings or characteristics associated with being a mother; motherliness.
A maternity ward.

adjective

Relating to or effective during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first months of motherhood: a maternity dress; maternity leave.

Origin of maternity

French maternité from Medieval Latin māternitās from Latin māternus maternal ; see maternal .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"maternity." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity>.

APA Style

maternity. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity

Noun

(countable and uncountable, plural maternities)

The state of being a mother; motherhood.
The state of being pregnant; pregnancy.
A ward or department in a hospital in which babies are born.

Related terms

maternity bra
maternity leave
maternity wear, maternitywear

Origin

Borrowing from Latin mÄternitÄs.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"maternity." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity>.

APA Style

maternity. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity

maternity - Medical Definition

n.

pl. maternities

The state of being a mother; motherhood.
The feelings or characteristics associated with being a mother; motherliness.
A maternity ward.

adj.

Relating to or effective during pregnancy, childbirth, or the first months of motherhood: a maternity dress; maternity leave.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"maternity." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 December 2018. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity>.

APA Style

maternity. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18th, 2018, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/maternity

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SentencesSentence examples

maternity

maternity

maternity

maternity - Medical Definition

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Words near maternity in the dictionary

maternity

maternity

maternity

maternity - Medical Definition

Sentence Examples

Also Mentioned In

Words near maternity in the dictionary

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