maternal

adjective ma·ter·nal \ mə-ˈtər-nᵊl \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Examples: maternal in a Sentence

Definition of maternal

1 : of, relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of a mother : motherly

maternal love

maternal instincts

2 a : related through a mother

his maternal aunt

b : inherited or derived from the female parent

maternal genes

—

maternally

play \-nᵊl-ē\ adverb

See maternal defined for English-language learners

See maternal defined for kids

Examples of maternal in a Sentence

Doctors are concerned about the effects of the drug on maternal health.
her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong

Recent Examples of maternal from the Web

Her mother and maternal grandmother preceded with valedictorian honors.

— ashley sloboda, Post-Tribune, "Valedictorian's mother, grandmother also top graduates," 15 June 2018
Local folklore about Maisie’s maternal ancestors keeps strangers away from their doorstep.

— michael berry, San Francisco Chronicle, "Science fiction and fantasy books: ‘Belly Up,’ ‘What Should Be Wild,’ ‘84K’," 7 June 2018
The two new experimental tests require about a teaspoonful of maternal blood extracted from a mother’s arm.

— dina fine maron, Scientific American, "Blood Test Could Predict Premature Birth Risk, Due Date," 7 June 2018
These maternal antibodies fade over the first six months of life.

— korin miller, SELF, "Hilaria Baldwin Is Trying to Keep Her Newborn Healthy While the Majority of Her Family Is Sick," 29 May 2018
Another factor may be the unintended consequences of patient satisfaction scores, said Carmen Rezak, maternal-child health quality coordinator for AHMC Healthcare, a Southern California hospital chain.

— anna gorman, Washington Post, "California Hospitals Urge Moms To Favor Breast Milk Over Formula," 25 May 2018
The board's newest pledge is $200,000 - to make aesthetic upgrades to the Hale Medical Pavilion which provides an array of maternal child health services.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "DKH Women's Board Kicks Off Ambitious Pledge Drive," 21 May 2018
The reading: Prince Harry asked his maternal aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, Diana's younger sister, to give a reading from the Song of Solomon at the wedding.

— stacey leasca, Glamour, "Here's How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Paid Tribute to Diana During Their Royal Wedding," 19 May 2018
So, does that mean female brains are fundamentally wired to be maternal?

— National Geographic, "Is Maternal Instinct Only for Moms? Here's the Science.," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maternal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of maternal

Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French maternel, from Medieval Latin maternalis, from Latin maternus, from mater mother — more at mother

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

maternal Synonyms

Synonyms

mother, motherly;

Related Words

parental;

female, feminine, womanish, womanlike, womanly;

matriarchal, matronly;

caring, giving, nurturing;

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

MATERNAL Defined for English Language Learners

maternal

adjective

Definition of maternal for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a mother
: of or relating to a woman who is having a baby
: related through the mother

MATERNAL Defined for Kids

maternal

adjective ma·ter·nal \ mə-ˈtər-nᵊl \

Definition of maternal for Students

1 : of or relating to a mother

maternal instincts

2 : related through the mother

maternal grandparents

—

maternally

adverb

Word Root of maternal

The Latin word mater, meaning “mother,” gives us the root mater or matr. Anyone or anything maternal, such as a grandparent, is related through the mother's side of the family. Maternity is the state of being a mother. A matriarch is a woman who is the mother and head of a family. A matron is a married woman who may be a mother.