antenatal

American  

[an-tee-neyt-l] / ˌæn tiˈneɪt l /

adjective

1. prenatal.

   an antenatal clinic.

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antenatal British  

/ ˌæntɪˈneɪtəl /

adjective

1. occurring or present before birth; during pregnancy

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noun

1. Also called: prenatal.  informal an examination during pregnancy

Other Word Forms

• antenatally adverb

Etymology

Origin of antenatal

First recorded in 1810–20; ante- + natal

Compare meaning

How does antenatal compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• antenatal vs. prenatal

Example Sentences

They didn't know each other, but they had one thing in common - they were all expecting their first child and attending antenatal classes.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

The pair had travelled through a country during an outbreak of the Zika virus - which can affect a baby's development - and the London hospital where Marten attended antenatal appointments became concerned.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

Given the recent steady decline in birth rate in Sweden, the researchers propose monitoring in antenatal care to address the problem.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

"Proper support and monitoring by antenatal care staff is therefore essential for women who have suffered serious health problems during pregnancy or delivery."

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

It exists only in the psychic vacuum of antenatal life, or perhaps only in the potentiality of the germ plasm.

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra