maternity leave
noun
: time off from a job given a mother to take care of a newborn child
The company granted her maternity leave.
Examples of maternity leave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So on Thursday evening, Korda’s sister, Jessica — a six-time LPGA Tour winner currently taking maternity leave from the game — studied her swing on the driving range.
—
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Kawata, who was elected in 2023, is due to give birth in mid-September and will take 16 weeks of maternity leave – eight weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth – in what’s believed to be a first for an incumbent mayor in Japan.
—Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
The four councilors joined Weber and Durkan in voting against the motion to reject the mayor’s budget last month when Coletta Zapata, another Wu ally, was still out on maternity leave, leaving the Council deadlocked.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
The show’s format has continued to adapt with temporary substitutions, including past fill-ins during maternity leave and other extended absences among cast members.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for maternity leave
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 8 June 2026
Kawata, who was elected in 2023, is due to give birth in mid-September and will take 16 weeks of maternity leave – eight weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth – in what’s believed to be a first for an incumbent mayor in Japan.
—Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
The four councilors joined Weber and Durkan in voting against the motion to reject the mayor’s budget last month when Coletta Zapata, another Wu ally, was still out on maternity leave, leaving the Council deadlocked.
—Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
The show’s format has continued to adapt with temporary substitutions, including past fill-ins during maternity leave and other extended absences among cast members.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for maternity leave
Cite this Entry
“Maternity leave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maternity%20leave. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
