pregnancy
Americannoun
plural
pregnanciesnoun
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the state or condition of being pregnant
-
the period from conception to childbirth
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The condition of carrying developing offspring within the body.
-
The time period during which this condition exists; gestation.
Other Word Forms
- postpregnancy adjective
Etymology
Origin of pregnancy
First recorded in 1520–30; pregn(ant) 1 + -ancy
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.
“Men need pregnancy preparation as much as women, period,” reads part of an episode description from the November episode.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
It also poses a serious risk during pregnancy.
From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026
Steinfeld flaunted her pregnancy during the awards circuit earlier this year, cradling her baby bump at the red carpet for the Golden Globe Awards.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
That includes a national child-care subsidy and a pledge that women will face no out-of-pocket costs during pregnancy, with medical expenses, including fertility treatments, folded into the national insurance system.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
Hearing develops from about 19 to 26 weeks of the pregnancy when the inner ear matures, and babies respond to voices and classical music by turning towards it and relaxing.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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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.