surrogacy

American  

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

noun

• surrogacies
  plural

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• surrogacies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of surrogacy

First recorded in 1810–20

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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

See Examples For:

surrogacy surrogacies

Shulman, the surrogacy attorney, said surrogate mothers and the parents they intend to deliver a baby for normally are required to have independent legal advocates who negotiate a contract between the parties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

But Xuan and Zhang, the attorneys said, were able to sidestep what few safeguards exist in the generally unregulated U.S. surrogacy industry by creating their own firm, Mark Surrogacy Investments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

The pair ran their own surrogacy company and are accused of making false statements to at least two women who became surrogates, indicating that Zhang was struggling to conceive, according to the criminal complaint.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Why the couple used surrogacy to have so many children, as well as the identities of the children’s biological parents, remain under investigation, Hochman said Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

A surrogacy case that has attracted national attention is now before the Supreme Court, and it raises a question that goes to the heart of what it means to be a parent.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

While the conflict significantly impacted surrogacies, they have nearly bounced back to pre-war levels, experts have told the BBC.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

“I was like, ‘No, we’re not Costco,’” said Troxler, who didn’t take the client because she rejects those looking for more than two surrogacies at once.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025

Besides expenses related to pregnancy terminations, Mastercard will also cover surrogacies, adoption services, vasectomies and access to contraception, the memo said.

From Reuters ● May 18, 2022

A week later, we finally got the news: in future, foreigners caught organising surrogacies in Thailand would face 10 years in prison, but any current arrangements could go ahead; those involved would not face charges.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 28, 2020

When governments began imposing travel bans, no one foresaw the consequences for families created with the help of surrogates, said Nidhi Desai, a Chicago lawyer who specializes in international adoptions and surrogacies.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 16, 2020

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