maternity

[muh-tur-ni-tee]

noun

1. the state of being a mother; motherhood.

2. motherly quality; motherliness.

3. a section of a hospital devoted to the care of women at childbirth and of their newborn infants.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or for the period in which a woman is pregnant or has just given birth to a child.

2. for mothers during and after childbirth or for the care of their newborn babies.

   a maternity hospital.

3. for wear by pregnant women.

   maternity clothes.

maternity

/ məˈtɜːnɪtɪ /

noun

1. motherhood

2. the characteristics associated with motherhood; motherliness

3. (modifier) relating to pregnant women or women at the time of childbirth

   a maternity ward

Other Word Forms

• prematernity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maternity¹

1605–15; < Medieval Latin māternitās, equivalent to Latin mātern ( us ) ( maternal ) + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

Anger had been growing, but what galvanised the movement was the death over a number of days in mid-September of eight women in a maternity ward of a hospital in the southern city of Agadir.

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This includes checking which benefits you are entitled to and ensuring your employer still contributes to your pension based on your salary as it was before maternity leave.

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And, like many women, there's a fear that maternity leave will damage her career prospects.

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The ICB said the report made recommendations, and progress in maternity care would be monitored.

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Parents who do not work might still be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare if their partner works, or they receive some benefits - for example if they are on maternity or paternity leave.

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