family planning

noun

: planning intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children through birth control

Examples of family planning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many factors could be contributing to the decision not to have a child, including socioeconomic circumstances, a maternal health care crisis, less access to family planning services, climate change concerns and a shaky economy. Jade Walker, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025 Programs slated for elimination include Healthy Start, which is dedicated to healthy pregnancies and births, newborn screenings for heritable disorders and hearing, infant and early childhood mental health, childhood lead poisoning, family planning and drowning prevention. Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025 The reinstated Trump version of the order expands the directive to include not just nongovernmental organizations that receive U.S. funding for family planning, but all NGOs that receive any U.S. health assistance. Joseph Lawler, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Feb. 2025 During the program’s first 15 years, its officers were involved in a wide swath of epidemiological investigations in areas including lead paint exposure, a cancer cluster’s connection to birth defects, family planning practices and famine relief. Casey Luc, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for family planning

Word History

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of family planning was in 1934

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Cite this Entry

“Family planning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family%20planning. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

family planning

noun
: planning that is intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children by using effective methods of birth control

Medical Definition

family planning

noun
: planning intended to determine the number and spacing of one's children through effective methods of birth control

More from Merriam-Webster on family planning

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