motherhood
Americannoun
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the state of being a mother; maternity.
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the qualities or spirit of a mother.
-
mothers collectively.
adjective
noun
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the state of being a mother
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the qualities characteristic of a mother
Usage
What does motherhood mean? Motherhood is the state of being a mother. A person enters motherhood when they become a mother. This most commonly happens when their child is born, but it can also happen through adoption or by marrying or becoming a partner to someone with children. Motherhood is a gender-specific version of the term parenthood. Less commonly, motherhood can refer to all mothers collectively, as in You won’t find a better mom in all of motherhood. Example: People who have not experienced motherhood probably shouldn’t be so quick to criticize how moms parent their children.
Etymology
Origin of motherhood
First recorded in 1375–1425; from the late Middle English word moderhed. See mother 1, -hood
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.
I want to see Elizabeth James laughing on the set of a photo shoot, with her daughter helping to style the campaign—where motherhood doesn’t end when work begins, and the beauty is the blur.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Part of their story, then, is that it’s a vile myth that pregnancy and motherhood can be hard on women.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Many fans saw Jackie as a model of motherhood, devotion and perseverance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe website says Knox's show, Cartwheel, is about motherhood and asks how she will explain what happened in Perugia to her daughter.
From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026
Teapot’s Mamma got a lot of attention anyway and immersed herself in a role she had shown no inclination for: motherhood.
From "Sula" by Toni Morrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
