maternity

1 of 2

noun

ma·​ter·​ni·​ty mə-ˈtər-nə-tē 

plural maternities

1

a

: the quality or state of being a mother : motherhood

b

: the qualities of a mother : motherliness

2

: a hospital facility designed for the care of women before and during childbirth and for the care of newborn babies

maternity

2 of 2

adjective

1

: being or providing care during and immediately before and after childbirth

maternity care

a maternity unit

2

: designed for wear during pregnancy

a maternity dress

3

: effective for the period close to and including childbirth

maternity leave

Did you know?

Maternity and Parts of Speech

Maternity is used as both a noun and an adjective. Maternity benefits are benefits specially provided by employers for women having babies, and usually include maternity leave, time off work. With maternity come maternal feelings, which are shown by all species of warm-blooded animals as well as a few reptiles such as crocodiles and alligators.

Synonyms of maternity

Noun

• fruitfulness
• fertility
• motherliness
• productivity

Examples of maternity in a Sentence

Noun

she had such maternity at such a young age that all her classmates went to her for comfort

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Their demands extend beyond the wage board to job security, workplace safety, maternity benefits, access to subsidized essentials and protection against anti-union discrimination, blacklisting and intimidation. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026

What action looks like Our KIds´Climate The reforms already underway in maternity care, in the UK and beyond, offer a rare window to design health systems for the climate that is actually arriving, rather than the one clinicians trained for. — Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The actor arrived in a regal sky blue high-neck top with a long cascading train and clashing red lining — custom designed by Prabal Gurung — offset with a casual pair of low slung, non-maternity jeans by La Ligne that skimmed just under her bump. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

There are a ton of non-maternity clothes for pregnancy that work just as well—if not better—than those specifically designed for a growing bump. — Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing maternity

• maternity leave

Rhymes for maternity

• eternity
• fraternity
• modernity
• paternity
• confraternity
• taciturnity

Kids Definition

maternity

1 of 2 noun

ma·​ter·​ni·​ty mə-ˈtər-nət-ē 

plural maternities

1

: the state of being a mother : motherhood

2

: motherly character or qualities : motherliness

maternity

2 of 2 adjective

1

: designed for wear during pregnancy

maternity clothes

2

: effective for the time around childbirth

maternity leave

Medical Definition

maternity

1 of 2 noun

ma·​ter·​ni·​ty mə-ˈtər-nət-ē 

plural maternities

: a hospital facility designed for the care of women before and during childbirth and for the care of newborn babies

maternity

2 of 2 adjective

1

: being or providing care during and immediately before and after childbirth

maternity care

a maternity unit

2

: designed for wear during pregnancy

maternity clothes

3

: effective for the period close to and including childbirth

maternity leave