gestation

American  

[je-stey-shuhn] / dʒɛˈsteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the process, state, or period of gestating.

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gestation British  

/ ˈdʒɛstətɪv, dʒɛˈsteɪ-, dʒɛˈsteɪʃən /

noun

1. 1. the development of the embryo of a viviparous mammal, between conception and birth: about 266 days in humans, 624 days in elephants, and 63 days in cats

   2. ( as modifier )

      gestation period

2. the development of an idea or plan in the mind

3. the period of such a development

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gestation Scientific  

/ jĕ-stā′shən /

1. The period of time spent in the uterus between conception and birth. Gestation in humans is about nine months.

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Other Word Forms

• gestational adjective
• gestative adjective
• gestatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of gestation

1525–35; < Latin gestātiōn- (stem of gestātiō ), equivalent to gestāt ( us ) ( gestate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

This change was made permanent in 2022, so women can take pills at home for gestation of up to nine weeks and six days.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

The company says its product, which works solely with bovine breath samples, has detected gestation with 94% accuracy in lab tests.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Was the gestation period so long that Hawke and Kaplow, the movie’s other Oscar nominee this year, occasionally wondered, “Will this ever happen?”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

California sea lions typically give birth in June after an 11-month gestation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

I took new interest in the torpedo-fish with their crackling shocks; in the turtles that paced beside yardsticks; in the mice sliced end to end, that their gestation might be viewed.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson