maternal
Americanadjective
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of, pertaining to, having the qualities of, or befitting a mother.
maternal instincts.
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related through a mother.
his maternal aunt.
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derived from a mother.
maternal genes.
adjective
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of, relating to, derived from, or characteristic of a mother
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related through the mother's side of the family
his maternal uncle
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of maternal
1475–85; < Medieval Latin māternālis, equivalent to Latin mātern ( us ) ( māter mother 1 + -nus adj. suffix) + -ālis -al 1
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Explanation
If you are maternal, you are like a mother. How you define what it is to be “like a mother” is up to you, but most people think of nurturing things like chicken soup and kisses on the forehead. The adjective maternal comes from the Latin maternus, which means “of a mother.” Many traits are labeled as maternal, including physical traits that are genetically passed on from the mother — like being color blind. A woman’s desire to have a child is called her “maternal instinct,” and if you care for other people in a nurturing way you are being maternal, even if you are not a mother. Your mother’s mother is your “maternal grandmother.”
Vocabulary lists containing maternal
It's All in the Family
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May Vocabulary Words
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "M"
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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.
Mr. Payne’s dialogue studiously avoids over-emotionalism even when conflicts arise—as when Miriam reacts with contempt, and not a shred of maternal sympathy, to Margaret’s announcement that she’s pregnant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
One possibility is that male embryos produce distinctive proteins that can trigger an unfavorable maternal immune response following a viral infection.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
Nithya Varsha Raman was born in 1981 in Kerala, India, to a family without much money, she said, with her maternal grandparents providing most of her early care.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026
Clancy's original trial, which featured more than 80 witnesses and days of distressing testimony, sparked debate in the United States over maternal mental health.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
She was a young female practising her maternal skills.
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
