maternity — the state of being a mother; the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the state of being a mother; the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth
Pronunciation (IPA): /məˈtɜːrnəti/
Example Sentences
- The company's generous maternity policy allows six months of paid leave.
- She felt like a walking tent in her maternity dress, but at least it was comfortable!
- The maternity ward was so busy that they ran out of pink and blue balloons.
maternity
NOUN[/məˈtɜːrnəti/]
the state of being a mother; the period during pregnancy and shortly after childbirth
The hospital opened a new maternity ward for expectant mothers.
The company offers paid maternity leave for new mothers. (🤰 Mother + 👶 Baby → Maternity)
Maternity and paternity leave gave the family precious time with their newborn.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin mater meaning 'mother', maternity evolved to denote the state or condition of being a mother. The term reflects ancient Roman cultural reverence for the sacred nature of motherhood.
Breakdown
mater (mother) + -nity (state or condition of). The suffix -nity, derived from Latin -nitas, transforms the noun into an abstract noun expressing a state or quality.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The company's generous maternity policy allows six months of paid leave.”
“She felt like a walking tent in her maternity dress, but at least it was comfortable!”
“The maternity ward was so busy that they ran out of pink and blue balloons.”
“Modern maternity care has significantly reduced risks for both mothers and babies.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.