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 gestation of Raw took several years because Kesselman was obsessed with creating a new type of paper — thin, translucent and brown that contained no additives or calcium carbonate (chalk). —Steve Bloom, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026

An extra week of gestation almost makes up for pregnancy being called la grossesse in French, non? —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026

Despite its long gestation, Sanctions never sounds like an album that took 30 years to make. —Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026

That extraordinary gestation period — among the longest of any land animal — produced a calf who entered the world at approximately 308 pounds and has been growing rapidly ever since. —Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 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