maternity

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /məˈtɜrnɪti/
• SAMPA: /m@t@rn@ti/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ma‧ter‧ni‧ty

Noun

Singular maternity

Plural maternities

1. (uncountable) Maternity is a state of a woman before giving birth to a child (children).
2. (uncountable) Maternity is a relation between a mother and her child.
   • Synonym: motherhood
3. (countable) A maternity ward is a place in a hospital where children are born.

Related words

• paternity