maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtər-nᵊl 

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

mə-ˈtər-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

• mother
• motherly

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 on the Web

Birth spacing helps to improve maternal health outcomes as becoming pregnant too soon after giving birth increases the risk of complications. —Adie Vanessa Offiong, CNN, 29 Nov. 2023

The award to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Community Health Centers of Arkansas was part of $80.5 million worth of funding announced by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute for research aimed at improving maternal health. —My Ly, arkansasonline.com, 29 Nov. 2023

Warwick comes from a musical family, maternal cousins with legendary opera soprano Leontyne Price and pop legend Whitney Houston, the daughter of soul and gospel singer Cissy Houston. —Sonia Rao, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2023

In 2021, the latest year for which data is available, 1,205 women died of maternal causes in the U.S. with a rate of 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births -- up from a rate of 23.8 in 2020 and 20.1 in 2019, according to CDC data. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2023

There are three Native American reservations around Bemidji, where women are particularly vulnerable to maternal mortality and pregnancy complications. —Sarah Maddox, CBS News, 27 Nov. 2023

The cranberry is a diploid, which means that each cell contains one set of chromosomes from the maternal parent and one set from the paternal parent. —Serina Desalvio, Discover Magazine, 18 Nov. 2023

In the video, Murphy highlights her efforts as first lady to reduce maternal mortality in the Garden State and to include climate change education in school curriculum. —Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023

Black women have maternal mortality rates roughly three times those of white women in the United States. —Nbc Universal, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2023

See More

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

: of or relating to a mother : motherly

2

a

: related through a mother

maternal grandparents

b

: obtained or received from a female parent

maternal chromosomes

maternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

Etymology

Middle English maternal "maternal, of or like a mother," from early French maternel (same meaning), from Latin maternus "maternal," from mater "mother" — related to alma mater

Medical Definition

maternal

adjective

ma·​ter·​nal mə-ˈtərn-ᵊl 

1

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

maternal instinct

2

a

: related through a mother

his maternal aunt

b

: inherited or derived from the female parent

maternal genes

maternally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb