maternity

American  

[muh-tur-ni-tee] / məˈtɜr nɪ ti /

noun

1. the state of being a mother; motherhood.

2. motherly quality; motherliness.

3. a section of a hospital devoted to the care of women at childbirth and of their newborn infants.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or for the period in which a woman is pregnant or has just given birth to a child.

2. for mothers during and after childbirth or for the care of their newborn babies.

   a maternity hospital.

3. for wear by pregnant women.

   maternity clothes.

maternity British  

/ məˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. motherhood

2. the characteristics associated with motherhood; motherliness

3. (modifier) relating to pregnant women or women at the time of childbirth

   a maternity ward

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Other Word Forms

• prematernity noun

Etymology

Origin of maternity

1605–15; < Medieval Latin māternitās, equivalent to Latin mātern ( us ) ( maternal ) + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

She said "meaningful investment in the maternity workforce" was needed.

From BBC

Also a qualified nurse, Fraser has spent 21 years as a midwife after realising he enjoyed maternity work "far better" than nursing during a placement as part of his training.

From BBC

Newby, who was being treated for a chest infection at the time, said he approached Farooq outside the maternity ward after spotting him fidgeting and looking anxious.

From BBC

Various buildings in the city as well as the maternity hospital were damaged.

From BBC

The BBC was granted access to the state-run facility as a coalition of international solidarity movements arrived in Havana with boxes of aid donations for the maternity hospital.

From BBC