ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pregnancy

n.
US //ˈpɹɛɡnənsi// UK //pɹˈɛɡnənsi// preg·nan·cy
  1. 1 the state of being pregnant (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    the condition of having a baby growing inside the body.

    the physiological state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus.

    Example

    She felt very healthy during her first pregnancy and exercised every day.

    Example

    The medical team monitored the high-risk pregnancy closely to ensure both the mother and the fetus remained stable throughout the final trimester.
  2. 2 the time period (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the period of time from when a baby is conceived until it is born.

    the duration of the gestational period from conception to parturition.

    Example

    Most people find that the second half of pregnancy goes by very quickly.

    Example

    Nutritional requirements change significantly over the course of a human pregnancy to support the rapid development of the fetal nervous system.
    • gestation period
Origin

From pregnant + -cy.

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

Last updated June 19, 2026