morning sickness

American

noun

nausea occurring in the early part of the day, especially as a characteristic symptom in the first months of pregnancy.

morning sickness British

noun

nausea occurring shortly after rising: an early symptom of pregnancy

"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 morning sickness

First recorded in 1875–80

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.

One version of the molecule helped treat morning sickness in pregnant women, while its mirror image caused serious birth defects.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

The intense morning sickness she endured during the pregnancy had eroded the enamel on her teeth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

She also said she was struggling with morning sickness at the time of the incidents and did not believe she had been deliberately dishonest.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2025

While regular morning sickness typically subsides at around 12 weeks, HG can last the whole time.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2024

Sissy was so realistic about her pregnancy by proxy that she simulated morning sickness in the beginning weeks.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

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