Synonyms

childbirth

American

[chahyld-burth] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜrθ /

noun

an act or instance of bringing forth a child; parturition.

a difficult childbirth.

childbirth British

/ ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜːθ /

noun

the act of giving birth to a child

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of childbirth

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at child, birth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Childbirth charities are warning parents that hands-free breastfeeding or bottle feeding, when a baby is being carried in a sling, is unsafe.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2025

But “she was there before I knew her personally,” Muza said, recalling reading her book, “Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide,” during her pregnancy in 1997.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 13, 2024

The study, published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, was conducted at UI Health's Two-Generation Clinic.

From Science Daily • Oct. 4, 2023

Childbirth is a vulnerable experience, both emotionally and physically.

From Scientific American • Feb. 9, 2023

Childbirth was something he didn’t like to discuss.

From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023