# pregnancy

/ˈpɹɛɡnənsi/ (US) · /pɹˈɛɡnənsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pregnancy
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the state of being pregnant

noun · CEFR B1

the condition of having a baby growing inside the body.

For teachers: the physiological state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus.

- She felt very healthy during her first pregnancy and exercised every day.
- The medical team monitored the high-risk pregnancy closely to ensure both the mother and the fetus remained stable throughout the final trimester.

### 2. the time period

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: the duration of the gestational period from conception to parturition.

- Most people find that the second half of pregnancy goes by very quickly.
- Nutritional requirements change significantly over the course of a human pregnancy to support the rapid development of the fetal nervous system.

## Examples

- She is enjoying a very healthy pregnancy.
- During her first pregnancy, she attended weekly classes to learn about nutrition and exercise for expectant mothers.
- Advances in prenatal screening have allowed doctors to monitor the health of the fetus throughout the pregnancy with unprecedented precision and safety.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.