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

According to the Tribune, the relationship between West and the biological parents was going well until the baby was diagnosed with HLHS at 20 weeks' gestation. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

For well over a century now, families have sported rows of rictus grins for the camera, but the subgenre of family portraiture (and, later, video clips) dedicated to conception, gestation, and birth is very much a product of the social media age. — Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026

Since he was born at just 21 weeks gestation, baby Nash had to spend 189 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

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

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