Word
prenatal
Phoneticspre·na·tal
US/pɹiˈneɪtəɫ/
UK/pɹɪnˈeɪtəl/
Definition
adj. relating to the time before a baby is born. It usually describes the medical care or vitamins a mother gets while she is pregnant.
adj. relating to the period of time during pregnancy before childbirth. Typically used in medical or health contexts to describe care, development, or testing.
Examples
“She goes to her prenatal checkup every month.”
“Doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamins to ensure the healthy development of the baby's nervous system.”
“The study suggests that consistent prenatal care significantly reduces the risk of complications during the third trimester and improves overall birth outcomes.”
Examples
simple
“She goes to her prenatal checkup every month.”
contextual
“Doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamins to ensure the healthy development of the baby's nervous system.”
complex
“The study suggests that consistent prenatal care significantly reduces the risk of complications during the third trimester and improves overall birth outcomes.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun (e.g., 'prenatal care', 'prenatal screening').
Real-World Examples
“Communities have seen moms start prenatal care earlier and stick with it.” Etymology
From pre- + natal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/prenatal