maternity leave

American  

noun

1. a leave of absence for an expectant or new mother for the birth and care of the baby.

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maternity leave British  

noun

1. a period of paid absence from work, in Britain currently six months, to which a woman is legally entitled during the months immediately before and after childbirth

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Etymology

Origin of maternity leave

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Perhaps her manager didn’t want to fill Struthers’s inbox while she was on maternity leave.

From The Wall Street Journal

She said that while on maternity leave, money was tight and she was finding it hard to keep her toddler entertained without spending too much money.

From BBC

She was seen as a potential future first minister, and came out of maternity leave early to run in the party's leadership race after the departure of Nicola Sturgeon.

From BBC

While I was grateful for my maternity leave, I didn’t feel completely ready to return to work after four months.

From Salon

During maternity leave for her younger child, Cora meets a scruffily cool husband and father named Sam at a local baby group and feels an immediate attraction.

From The Wall Street Journal