Word
maternal
Phoneticsma·ter·nal, stress on the second syllable
US/məˈtɝnəɫ/
UK/mətˈɜːnəl/
Definitions
01motherly feelings
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having or showing the kind and protective feelings of a mother.
adj. characteristic of or befitting a mother; exhibiting protective or nurturing behavior associated with motherhood.
“She felt a strong maternal instinct to protect the small child.”
“Even without biological children of her own, she displayed a deeply maternal attitude toward the younger students in her care.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02mother's side of the family
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. related to you through your mother rather than your father.
adj. related through the mother's lineage or side of the family.
“My maternal grandfather was born in a small village in Italy.”
“The inheritance dispute was complicated by the fact that the property had been passed down exclusively through the maternal line for three generations.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03medical/biological
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical
adj. related to a mother's body during pregnancy or birth.
adj. pertaining to the mother as a biological entity, specifically in the context of pregnancy, gestation, or the postpartum period.
“The doctor checked the maternal heart rate during the check-up.”
“Maternal health services have seen significant improvements in funding, focusing specifically on reducing complications during the third trimester.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “maternal” in context.
Real-World Examples
“Her maternal grandmother became a Kanyeleng after losing every child in infancy except Trawally’s mother.” “PIMS is one of the biggest hospitals in Pakistan's capital, with 156 beds in its maternal and child health unit.” Etymology
PIE word *méh₂tēr The adjective is derived from Late Middle English maternal, maternall, from Middle French maternel (“maternal”) (modern French maternel (“maternal; native”)), or from its etymon Late Latin māternālis (“maternal”), from Latin māternus (“maternal; related to the mother or her side of the family”) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship from nouns). Māternus is derived from māter (“mother”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr (“mother”)) + -rnus (suffix forming adjectives). The English word is cognate with Italian maternale, materno, Portuguese maternal, materno, Spanish maternal, materno. The noun is derived from the adjective.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- 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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/maternal