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

The researchers had access to ultrasound data gathered at 7, 9, and 11 weeks of gestation. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 24 Mar. 2026

That’s generally at about six weeks’ gestation. —Nicole Duarte, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026

Finally premiering Thursday night at SXSW after a long gestation period, writer-director Victoria Strouse‘s hilarious dysfunctional-siblings comedy Seekers of Infinite Love proves to be well worth the wait. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026

Around six weeks of gestation, tooth buds start to appear. —Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 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
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation

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