English Reference
Noun

childbirth

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈtʃaɪɫdˌbɝθ/ UK /tʃˈaɪldbɜːθ/ child·birth UK spelling childbirths

n.the process of giving birth to a baby. It describes the physical act of a child being born.

n.the act or process of giving birth to a child.


SIMPLE

Childbirth is a natural biological process.

CONTEXTUAL

She attended several classes to prepare for the physical demands of childbirth.

COMPLEX

Modern medicine has transformed childbirth from a dangerous event into a routine, albeit intense, milestone in human life.

Born in 1946, in Añora, Córdoba, Rodríguez's mother died during childbirth.

The Local· 18 Aug 2026

From Middle English childbyrth [and other forms], perhaps a partial calque of Old Norse barnburðr (“childbearing, childbirth”, literally “bairn birth”); equivalent to child + birth. Compare Swedish barnsbörd (“childbirth”), Icelandic barnsburður (“childbirth”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin non barnburðr
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated