midwifery

American

[mid-wif-uh-ree, -wif-ree, mid-wahy-fuh-ree, -wahyf-ree] / mɪdˈwɪf ə ri, -ˈwɪf ri, ˈmɪdˌwaɪ fə ri, -ˌwaɪf ri /

noun

the technique or practice of a midwife.

midwifery British

/ ˈmɪdˌwɪfərɪ /

noun

the art or practice of a midwife; obstetrics

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of midwifery

First recorded in 1475–85; see origin at midwife, -ery

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

midwifery

The most important part of the training is "to remind me that we are here on a woman's journey, they are not on our journey," says Tasha Simmons, a midwifery ward manager at the trust.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Fiona Giraud, director of midwifery and women's services for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said her priority remained with the mother.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

"Unless we tackle the urgent workforce crisis, services will continue to be disrupted, putting further strain on an already stretched midwifery and obstetric workforce," he added.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Nearly 400 Welsh nursing and midwifery graduates remain without NHS jobs after the initial process to match them to suitable roles finished.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

In that way she learned that midwifery was as much about hard work and good sense and comfrey tonic as spells and magic.

From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023