# childbearing

/ˈtʃaɪɫdˌbɛɹɪŋ/ (US) · /tʃˈaɪldbeəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/childbearing
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

having and giving birth to babies. You use it mostly to talk about the age or years when having a baby is possible.

For teachers: conception, pregnancy, and birth of children; also the period of life when reproduction is biologically possible.

## Examples

- Many women delay childbearing until their thirties.
- Doctors advise women of childbearing age to take folic acid daily.
- Falling birth rates in many countries reflect later childbearing, driven by longer education, career pressures, and wider access to contraception.

## Usage notes

- Commonly appears in the phrase 'of childbearing age'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.