childbirth

American  

[chahyld-burth] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜrθ /

noun

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

   a difficult childbirth.

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childbirth British  

/ ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜːθ /

noun

1. the act of giving birth to a child

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Etymology

Origin of childbirth

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

Example Sentences

China Feihe moved early, announcing in 2025 a childbirth subsidy program backed by a 1.2 billion yuan internal fund, a sign that corporate strategy is already tracking the government’s fertility agenda.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says it believes hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest settings for childbirth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Future studies will focus on the sensory nerve networks involved in childbirth, since not all nerves around the uterus contain PIEZO2.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

What I do have is the truth that for many of us, childbirth is not just a medical event.

From Slate • Jan. 11, 2026

“We were comparing sensations. I was going to suggest that she had never experienced childbirth ” “You’re a fool,” Gage said.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway