ENGLISH
REFERENCE

maternity

n. · adj.
US //məˈtɝnɪti// UK //mətˈɜːnɪti// ma·ter·ni·ty
  1. 1 motherhood (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of being a mother.

    the state or condition of being a mother; motherhood.

    Example

    She felt that maternity had changed her perspective on life completely.

    Example

    The transition into maternity often involves a profound shift in both personal identity and social responsibility.
  2. 2 hospital department (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    the part of a hospital where women go to give birth to their babies.

    a hospital ward or department specialising in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.

    Example

    The family waited in the maternity ward for news of the new baby.

    Example

    The hospital recently renovated its maternity wing to include private suites and advanced neonatal monitoring equipment.
  3. 3 related to pregnancy (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to describe things for women who are pregnant, like clothes or time off work.

    relating to or designed for pregnancy or the period immediately following childbirth; used attributively.

    Example

    She bought some comfortable maternity clothes to wear during her second trimester.

    Example

    The company offers a generous maternity leave package that includes full pay for the first six months.

    Usage

    Always used before a noun, such as 'maternity leave' or 'maternity clothes'.
Origin

From French maternité, from Latin māternitās.

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

Last updated June 20, 2026