family planning

American  

noun

1. the concept or a program of limiting the size of families through the spacing or prevention of pregnancies, especially for economic reasons.

2. (loosely) birth control.

---

family planning British  

noun

1. the control of the number of children in a family and of the intervals between them, esp by the use of contraceptives See also birth control

---

family planning Cultural  

1. The use of education and birth control to limit the number of offspring and the population of a country. (See population control and Margaret Sanger.)

---

Etymology

Origin of family planning

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

“Without family planning, you could have an increased number of women die because of deliveries, especially young women.”

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2026

"Those who truly need to buy these products will still buy them, because these are family planning products," Xu told AFP outside a shopping mall.

From Barron's • Jan. 5, 2026

“It’s the entire family planning budget that has gone,” she said.

From Salon • Oct. 25, 2025

Part of the reason that complex family planning residents are more likely to provide pain management for IUD placements comes down to training.

From Slate • Sep. 7, 2025

For family planning is the most important planning.

From The Good Housekeeping Marriage Book by Bigelow, William F. (William Frederick)