pregnancy
Americannoun
noun
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the state or condition of being pregnant
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the period from conception to childbirth
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The condition of carrying developing offspring within the body.
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The time period during which this condition exists; gestation.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of pregnancy
First recorded in 1520–30; pregn(ant) 1 + -ancy
Explanation
Pregnancy is the state of being pregnant, the time a woman grows a baby in her belly. For humans, pregnancy lasts about nine months, during which time the mother might want a chocolate chip and pickle sandwich. Get her one. Before a mother bear gives birth to a cub, or a mother cat has kittens, she goes through pregnancy. In humans, pregnancy is a time to prepare for a new baby while the mother-to-be does things like take special vitamins and choose a doctor or midwife to assist with the upcoming birth. Bears and cats just go for it. Pregnancy comes from the Latin praegnans, "with child" or "before birth," from prae-, "before," and gnasci, "be born."
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.
Baby Carrie has not been born yet at the start of the series, in part so the show could explore pioneer pregnancy and childbirth.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026
Born to Nigerian parents who lived in London, his mother wound up giving birth to him in Brooklyn after being turned away from her flight home due to her advanced pregnancy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
When asked what her future child will think about the attention surrounding her pregnancy, she says: "I really hope they will be surprised."
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
In the novel, Hubie and Janine’s relationship pivots after an ectopic pregnancy ends in loss.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
When I first found out about the pregnancy, you were different.
From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy
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.
