maternal

[ muh-tur-nl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother:

   maternal instincts.

2. related through a mother:

   his maternal aunt.

3. derived from a mother:

   maternal genes.

maternal

/ məˈtɜːnəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of a mother
2. related through the mother's side of the family

   his maternal uncle

Derived Forms

• maˈternally, adverb
• maˈternalism, noun
• maˌternalˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• ma·ternal·ism noun
• ma·ternal·istic adjective
• ma·ternal·ly adverb
• nonma·ternal adjective
• nonma·ternal·ly adverb
• quasi-ma·ternal adjective
• quasi-ma·ternal·ly adverb
• unma·ternal adjective
• unma·ternal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of maternal¹

1475–85; < Medieval Latin māternālis, equivalent to Latin mātern ( us ) ( māter mother ¹ + -nus adj. suffix) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of maternal¹

C15: from Medieval Latin māternālis, from Latin māternus, from māter mother

Example Sentences

Karen Middleton, head of policy at MMHA, says mums are being failed by the lack of consistent maternal mental health care.

From BBC

And any maternal instincts that I ever had, as small as they were, were absolutely sated by this character.

From Los Angeles Times

Black mothers also shoulder a far greater burden of the maternal and infant mortality crisis.

From Salon

"That's the typical recommendation that we have for any medication or substance if we don't know what the cause and effects of it are on maternal and infant health," said Dr. Kathleen Chaput, a researcher at the University of Calgary who studies substance use and pregnancy.

From Salon

Black mothers are particularly subject to this intersection of drug policy and maternal and infant health.

From Salon

Related Words

• parental