Word
childbirth
Phoneticschild·birth, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtʃaɪɫdˌbɝθ/
UK/tʃˈaɪldbɜːθ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“Childbirth is a natural biological process.”
“She attended several classes to prepare for the physical demands of childbirth.”
“Modern medicine has transformed childbirth from a dangerous event into a routine, albeit intense, milestone in human life.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“Terracotta figures of childbirth and motherhood may have been offered by women to this nameless deity.” “Born in 1946, in Añora, Córdoba, Rodríguez's mother died during childbirth.” “Prior to modern medicine, more than one in 100 women died in childbirth .” “The first zumunta mata was formed in 1930 after a woman almost died during childbirth in Miango, a town more than 50 miles away in what is now the neighbouring Plateau state.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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