midwife

American  

[mid-wahyf] / ˈmɪdˌwaɪf /

noun

plural

midwives

1. a person trained to assist women in childbirth.

2. a person or thing that produces or aids in producing something new or different.

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verb (used with object)

midwifed, midwived, midwifing, midwiving

1. to assist in the birth of (a baby).

2. to produce or aid in producing (something new).

   to midwife a new generation of computers.

midwife British  

/ ˈmɪdˌwaɪf /

noun

1. a person qualified to deliver babies and to care for women before, during, and after childbirth

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Etymology

Origin of midwife

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English midwif, from mid “with, accompanying” ( Old English; meta- ) + wif “woman” ( Old English wīf; wife )

Explanation

A midwife is someone whose job involves helping women give birth to babies. Some pregnant women get their prenatal care from a midwife, as well as delivering their babies with a midwife's help. There are different categories of midwives — lay midwives attend home births, and nurse midwives also assist birthing women at hospitals and birth centers. In either case, a midwife is trained to understand the process of birth and techniques to make it easier and safe for mothers and newborn babies. Midwife literally means "woman who is with," or "woman assisting," from the Middle English mid, "with," and wif, "woman."

Example Sentences

Without a doubt, Goddard was the father of 20th-century rocketry, but Charles Lindbergh was the midwife.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

She came to visit him on his last day as a full-time midwife and reminisced about the care he provided Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry,

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

In Northern Ireland alone, there were five men registered as a midwife and one as a nurse and midwife.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

The former midwife was formally installed in the historic ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in southeast England in front of around 2,000 people including heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The mother of four, she worked as a nurse, a midwife, and even as an undertaker to help support her family.

From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen

Related Words

• obstetrician