surrogacy

American  

[sur-uh-guh-see, suhr‑] / ˈsɜr ə gə si, ˈsʌr‑ /

noun

1. the state of being a surrogate or surrogate mother.

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Etymology

Origin of surrogacy

First recorded in 1810–20

Explanation

Surrogacy is the act of taking the place of another person, particularly by agreeing to give birth to a baby on behalf of someone else. Along with adoption, surrogacy is one of the ways people who can't become pregnant and carry a baby themselves are able to become parents. A surrogate is paid to fill the pregnancy role, and after the birth, the child is raised by the person or couple who hired the surrogate. The Latin root of surrogacy is surrogatus, "put in another's place."

Example Sentences

But alongside it, he issued an opinion speculating that the surrogacy contract may be unconstitutional and void.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

They function much the same way as surrogacy contracts, which similarly establish legal parentage through contract rather than biology.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

Jay pointed out that while Uthmeier’s “legal arguments draw no distinction between same-sex and opposite-sex couples,” his “public commentary on surrogacy centers on same-sex parenting.”

From Slate • May 13, 2026

For five years Himatraj and Rajvir Bajwa from London tried unsuccessfully to start a family, including with two rounds of IVF, before they decided to pursue surrogacy.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

It was when Karina was in a shop one day, with barely enough money to pay for bread and nappies for their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, that she decided to turn to paid surrogacy.

From BBC • May 7, 2026