Synonyms

childbearing

American

[chahyld-bair-ing] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbɛər ɪŋ /

noun

the act of producing or bringing forth children.

adjective

capable of, suitable for, or relating to the bearing bear of a child or of children.

the childbearing years.

Etymology

Origin of childbearing

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; child, bearing

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.

The rising living costs in China and economic uncertainty also continue to deter childbearing, she added.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

“I’ve been in the business 51 years, and congenital measles only occurs when you have women in their childbearing years who are neither vaccinated or previously infected.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 17, 2025

But even among married Americans, the childbearing rate is down.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

Not only is infertility an incredibly lonely experience, but childbearing is also still a taboo topic.

From Slate • Jan. 2, 2025

No one knows for sure, but local doctors think that as many as 30 percent of all men and women of childbearing age who live in the vicinity of Mount Elgon are infected with hiv.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

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