gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən 

1

: the carrying of young in the uterus (see uterus sense 1) : pregnancy

2

: conception (see conception sense 3) and development especially in the mind

gestational

je-ˈstā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms of gestation

• pregnancy

Examples of gestation in a Sentence

the gestation of new ideas

The book has been in gestation for a long time.

Recent Examples on the Web

While there are various causes, many miscarriages occur because the unborn baby does not develop properly during gestation. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Applegate delivered her daughter, Alara, on May 29 at 23 weeks and 2 days of gestation, with the newborn weighing a little over 1 lb. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

The sustained gestation the placenta enabled supported larger, more metabolically expensive brains. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Not that the album had an easy gestation. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin gestation-, gestatio, from gestare to bear, frequentative of gerere to bear

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gestation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən 

: the carrying of young in the uterus : pregnancy

Medical Definition

gestation

noun

ges·​ta·​tion je-ˈstā-shən 

1

: the carrying of young in the uterus from conception to delivery : pregnancy

2

: gestation period

gestational

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective