motherhood
Americannoun
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the state of being a mother; maternity.
-
the qualities or spirit of a mother.
-
mothers collectively.
adjective
noun
-
the state of being a mother
-
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.
When motherhood gets lonely, there are playdates and moms’ nights out.
Voting is the most elemental of democratic exercises, a virtuous act residing right up there alongside motherhood and apple pie.
From Los Angeles Times
Rose Byrne was the sole representation for motherhood drama If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, while Kate Hudson made it in on her own for the touching musical love story Song Sung Blue.
From BBC
Leavitt talks frequently about how she balances motherhood with “building my success in my career,” often with the unsubtle implication that women who struggle just don’t try hard enough.
From Salon
The pop star, who opened up about her motherhood journey for her 2023 pregnancy book “Dear Future Mama: A TMI Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Motherhood from Your Bestie,” welcomed both her sons via C-section.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
