surrogacy

noun

sur·​ro·​ga·​cy ˈsər-ə-gə-sē How to pronounce surrogacy (audio)
: the practice of serving as a surrogate mother

Examples of surrogacy in a Sentence

choosing between adoption and surrogacy
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.
Pentatonix star Scott Hoying and his husband Mark Hoying welcomed their first child this summer via surrogacy. Morgan Mouchette, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Beside religious reasons, Hilton said that raising his three children, conceived via surrogacy, in his hometown just felt right. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 The baritone for Pentatonix and his husband, Mark, have welcomed their first child, a baby girl, via surrogacy. Sarah Scott, Parents, 24 June 2026 Since the pandemic, the cost of a single surrogacy birth has doubled, and sometimes much more. Mark Ellwood, Air Mail, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for surrogacy

Word History

First Known Use

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of surrogacy was in 1982

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Surrogacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surrogacy. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Medical Definition

surrogacy

noun
sur·​ro·​ga·​cy ˈsər-ə-gə-sē, ˈsə-rə- How to pronounce surrogacy (audio)
plural surrogacies
: the practice of serving as a surrogate mother

Legal Definition

surrogacy

noun
sur·​ro·​ga·​cy ˈsər-ə-gə-sē How to pronounce surrogacy (audio)
plural surrogacies
1
: the office of a surrogate
2
: the practice of serving as a surrogate mother
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster