childbearing

American  

[chahyld-bair-ing] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbɛər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of producing or bringing forth children.

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adjective

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

   the childbearing years.

Etymology

Origin of childbearing

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

childbearing

Core to the new guidance is the idea that teenagers should start planning childbearing ASAP.

From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026

Of all the conditions that make childbearing seem possible, one is the most deceptively simple: increasing the number of men who would make good fathers.

From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026

Must we really dwell, ladies, on the downsides of heterosexual dating, marriage, childbearing, and domestic labor as though they are issues of life and death?

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026

U.S. fertility rates hit record lows in 2025 as childbearing continued to shift toward older women, according to new federal data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

At the same Tipping Point, the rates of childbearing for teenaged girls — which barely move at all up to that point — nearly double.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• fertile
• fruitful
• procreant
• procreative