lactation

noun

lac·​ta·​tion lak-ˈtā-shən 

plural lactations

1

: the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands

… there may be overproduction of prolactin, the breast milk hormone. A sign of that might be abnormal lactation.

—Paul G. Donohue

When a doe kids and begins lactation, she must draw on the calcium stored in her bones to furnish enough blood calcium for milk production.

—David B. Weems

… lactation rooms where mothers can express milk for baby.

—Shawn Tully

… the infants of mothers given the names of lactation support groups or individuals instead are more likely to be fully breast-feeding at four months.

—Barbara Quick

2

: one complete period of lactation extending from about the time of birthing to weaning

… cows fed 1.1 percent bicarb in the total ration produced an average 17,587 lbs. of milk per lactation …

—Eastern Milk Producer

lactational

lak-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

lactational mastitis

Examples of lactation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

End lactation syndrome, a condition of postweaning emaciation and exhaustion, is a common cause of death among females. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026

The facility will offer prenatal care, birth services, postpartum care, lactation support, holistic reproductive health care, childbirth education, and wellness programming. —Todd Feurer, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026

And our lactation consultant judge applauds these bottles as an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable storage bags. —Pamela Brill, Parents, 7 Apr. 2026

Used for lactation suppression, nutrition, a cute hat or coleslaw. —Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lactation

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

Medical Definition

lactation

noun

lac·​ta·​tion lak-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the secretion and yielding of milk by the mammary gland

2

: one complete period of lactation extending from about the time of parturition to weaning

lactational

-shən-ᵊl 

adjective

lactationally

-ē 

adverb